British 3-speeds are the bicycle equivalent of a side car - charming, fun, non-threatening and ridden (usually) by approachable people who are smiling. My wife and I get all sorts of smiles, waves and general friendliness from others of all ages on our 3-speeds, that we don't see as much when on road or mountain bikes. Three speeds are recognizably different (though the current popularity of hybrid city bikes will dilute that a bit in the non-cycling public's eyes)