Diane,
I was wondering what you call "non-standard bike" and therefore what it implies. Each type of cycle – bicycle or tricycle – has a few inherent plusses and minusses, and the reaction of others is also something to account for.
I only ride a diamond-frame bicycle. But I ride different types of them: single or tandem, and either of these with the trailercycle, and sometimes with the cargo trailer too. Special lessons :
– Plan your path accordingly: with the long bike, it means longer turns, no weaving in traffic, need for more caution in hills (up or down), and it also means that I have to plan for 3 tracks. Finding my way around potholes is sometimes a wee bit challenging.
– Check other people even more. I'm not sure which is worst. With the long bike, everybody notices me which is good, but there is also a lot of rubbernecking. Some drivers look at us a wee bit too long and sometimes forget to watch other traffic on the road.
– Plan lighting accordingly.