I regularly commute on a Bacchetta Giro 20 (SWB 26" rear tire / 20" front) and I don't have any problems at all. My riding position puts my head level with most car drivers which allows me to make eye contact with them. In fact I find that people see me better because of just how different the bike looks and when passing me they give me much more room than when I rode my upright bike. When I ride in Tacoma where bicycle commuting is not as common than in Redmond, people literally stare at me as if I'm riding in a UFO or something. On a recumbent bike people see me and not through me so ironically to the OP's observation, I actually feel safer on the recumbent than on a upright bike.