Most 2-wheeled recumbent riders have never ridden a USS bike just because they are much less common so you might take their comments about a comparison with a grain of salt. I bought a used 1997 Linear long wheelbase bike in December 2000. It came with OSS bars (ape hanger style) installed and the USS parts in a box. The original owner bought the bike and had the USS steering removed and replaced by OSS. Being curious, I installed the USS bars while the OSS handlebars were still in place and rode the bike for about 2 weeks to compare the two. I got a few stares from pedestrians while riding "no hands" from their point of view. I found that I much preferred the USS bars so I switched the brake handles and shifters and removed the OSS bars. I rode that bike 3,000 miles in the first 11 months I owned it. A few years later I bought an Haluzak Horizon short wheelbase bike which also has USS. Both bikes work perfectly well and neither one is particularly hard for inexperienced riders to try out. I've lent both out a number of times without anyone crashing either bike. I've long since thrown out the OSS bars for the Linear but as I recall, the width of the bars was about equal for OSS and USS so getting either one through a doorway was about the same.