Originally Posted by
RLSchell
I have some questions about the viability of a tricycle for commuting. I’m not committed to the idea – just thinking about it and looking for ideas.
Let me explain my circumstances. I started bike commuting about 6 months ago and I've logged maybe 1000 miles both commuting and recreational riding since then. Prior to this year, I hadn't used a bike regularly since high school (I'm 42). My current commuter is an Electrec ebike with the usual accessories (lights, fenders, rack, etc.). I practice vehicular cycling and mix right in with traffic on some narrow, shoulderless, busy roads (this is really my best, safest route given the alternatives). My average speed is about 15 MPH and I don’t need to go faster.
Although I've never fallen off a bike as an adult, I'm very afraid that if anything should happen and I go down on my commute, I'd be instantly squashed by a vehicle. I'd also like to be able to carry more cargo, safely commute in winter with occasional ice and snow, and avoid low speed balance issues in stop-and-go traffic. Hence, my consideration of a tricycle. Now, my questions:
1. What are the legal issues? NJ laws and regs strictly define bicycles as two-wheeled and rear-drive in the context of motor vehicle code. Has anyone been told by law enforcement that a tricycle is not a bicycle and can’t be used on-road as such?
2. How well does a tricycle lend itself to commuting in general and with busy traffic on narrow roads in particular?
3. Assuming careful and slow biking, I would think three wheels stay up on ice better than two – right, wrong?
4. I know there are lots of recumbent trike fans, but being that low in heavy traffic would seem to make it hard to see and be seen. I’d prefer an upright tricycle design. Pros, cons?
A bit off topic – maybe you can see what I really want is an all season, street-legal, human-electric hybrid vehicle. Such things are produced (e.g., Twike), albeit at ridiculously expensive prices and in my state would require motorcycle classification and would lose the flexibility of being a “bicycle.”
Okay seeing that you getting nothing but pessimism for an answer from folks who may have not have ridden a trike since breaking out their long britches. I'll step up. I own an '07 Schwinn Town and Country which is three speed conventional cruiser styled trike. I use mine for limited commuting. Specifically I use it to commute to my weekend job at a Mom and Pop computer shop about 2 miles away. What are the advantages to using a trike? You can carry very large and bulky items that ordinarily you wouldn't be able to carry on a regular bike without either xtracycling it or hitching a trailer. I can carry either one desktop PC with a monitor on my trike or two desktops. I really could not do that on a regular bike without a trailer (which negates the whole "jumping curbs" argument of two wheeler in this sort of scenario as if you hop a curb the trailer is going to snag you to the curb like a giant anchor in a bugs bunny cartoon.) So in a heavy and bulky loads scenario a trike and a heavily loaded bike are about the same.
1. What laws govern trikes?
A. The same ones that govern bikes.
2. How well does a tricycle lend itself to commuting in general and with busy traffic on narrow roads in particular?
A. Trikes tend to be slower. I average around 8.5 MPH on my T&C compared to 12MPH plus on my other bikes. If I can avoid roads with high speed traffic I generally do; however, if I'm on the road I take ownership of the space. If the cagers decide to throw a temper tantrum I let them, but by law I'm entitled
to be there in he right hand lane. Trikes are also faster off the line compared to a bike. No need to come out of the saddle or unclip at a light. As for how it lends itself to commuting it's not any worse that a bike; however, keep in mind it's larger so if you have a really small office or cubicle you probably will be parking the trike outside then hauling your gear inside. Your also going to have to compensate for the slower speeds with longer saddle time. I've only done short commutes on my T&C because I don't trust it's rear axle design. So far it's failed once every 6 months. If I had a different make of trike I might be more inclined to try longer commutes.
3. Assuming careful and slow biking, I would think three wheels stay up on ice better than two – right, wrong?
A. The stability might be better with a trike, but if you loose traction on your power wheel you won't be going anywhere fast. Most trikes are single power wheel designs with the exception of the '79-80's Schwinn Town and Country.
4. I know there are lots of recumbent trike fans, but being that low in heavy traffic would seem to make it hard to see and be seen. I’d prefer an upright tricycle design. Pros, cons?
A. The conventional wisdom is that because of their unusual layout recumbent trikes tend to stand out to motorists. Would I ride one? Sure if I had testicles the size of bowling balls; unfortunately, I'm not full of that sort of manly courage. I'm more inclined to the conventional designs where I'm sitting at bumper level or higher.