squirtdad

While not a tsunami of trikes, I am seeing increasing numbers of trikes (upright ones like this https://www.torkerusa.com/bikes/utility/2012-tristar ) being used for commuting and errand running. What is interesting is that the riders are not the older demographic I associate with trikes ( I bought one for my dad), but are people in 20's to 40's. More of the riders are female than are male, appear to be not super comfortable on a bike and are mostly of Asian decent. Most are safety concisions, with lights, vests, reflecters, helmets. some are in bike specifid or close to to it clothes

My theory is that these are people who want to bike, did not do a lot or any biking previously, and are unsure of their abilities so they are going for a trike as these can't fall over. Also a trike does have good carrying capacity.

Any one else seeing any thing like this?

delcrossv

Practical and with an almost zero learning curve. Not surprising at all.

daihard 

I honestly can't say I've ever seen one around where I live. I agree with delcrossv that more people choosing trikes makes sense.

enigmaT120

The rider of the only one I've noticed was using a wheel chair when not in the trike, so I thought it made sense.

Essex

Asian demographic - Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Filipino etc? I did see a large number of gas-powered trikes in India etc. I like the utilitarian nature of the trike. I'd probably ride one around a town where biking is friendly and roads are wide - like Davis Ca etc.

I've seen a few around Manhattan. Moms touting kids on the Westside MUP, or souped-up trikes carrying auto parts, of hardware bits.

B. Carfree

I've seen an increase from one to two. If I see a third one, then maybe there's some trend starting. Not likely to happen soon since the few bikes in use here disappear when the rains get going.

I have noticed an increase in men in their forties to sixties on 'bents, both trikes and two-wheelers, over the past couple of years. A few of them have even gotten their wives to ride along with them. They seem to be having a great time.

ItsJustMe

If I lived in a walkable city I'd probably get one. Seems very useful. I don't think it would work well since 50 feet out of my driveway I'm on 50 MPH 2 lane roads with no shoulder.

I-Like-To-Bike

Only trikes being ridden here are by the elderly.

ro-monster

Hrm, I don't recall ever seeing any trikes here in San Mateo. Lots of bikes of all kinds, but all on two wheels.

rydabent

As I have posted in other places, the local trike dealer is selling tons of trikes. While probably more to older, maybe former recumbent bike owners, I have seen a lot of younger people on trikes too. Once anyone of any age rides a trike they are pretty much hooked, since trikes are that much fun. Personally I ride the trike when I want a relaxed ride to site see, or stop to watch construction or some event. With the trike I have a ring side seat of my own.

I have a bent bike and a trike too. I pretty much ride them both about 50-50. One reason for getting the trike was the fact that my wife will ride the trike with me some.

mconlonx

We've sold a few trikes, always to the elderly.

If someone young is coming in looking for a trike, they are inevitably looking for a recumbent, tadpole bike.

There is a local immigrant asian population, but they usually will buy a bike and deck it out with rack, baskets, kickstand, etc, no trike sales to them so far.

squirtdad

specific to bay area.... I am seeing a this on Grant/Fremont roads on my way to Saint Francis high school. I just saw a young lady (20's) decked out in tights, what looked like bike specific jacket, pretty clearly commuting (maybe even to my company) on Curtner at Camden in san jose. A few in willow glen.

A friend is involved in city planning in sunnyvale and he says they are getting more complaints about bike lanes that are not level being a problem for trikes.

Dchiefransom

The streets in that area are not level for the drainage aspects. The frist thing It hought of when I read your OP was that angle a trike would be at.

gcottay

Recumbent dealers report greatly increased trike sales but most of them are more similar to this ICE Vortex than to the Torker.

genec

Wow, couldn't you imagine the roads filled with folks riding those to work.

I-Like-To-Bike

No, I can't. I would guess that "greatly increased trike sales" as reported by dealers is in a percentage increase, say from 1 unit a year to 4 a year, a 400% increase.

rydabent

I find it amazing that in the Bay area of Calif that there are few trikes. I thot that the people there were enlightened exercise types and leaders of the country. Yet us fly over people here in Lincoln and Omaha find an ever increasing number of trikes.

eja_ bottecchia

Riding a trike wouldn't be much fun in San Francisco. Traffic is genrally congested, spaces to ride are narrow and hills are killers. A hybrid or commuter bike makes more sense in SF. My two daughters in SF get around in their commuter bikes.

njkayaker

Woosh! You don't realize that genec wasn't saying there were actually any of them.

delcrossv

Sure could, that would be COOL.

Insufficient imagination, ILTB.

genec

Thank you. Exactly. I was indeed simply imagining roads filled with those bents rather than the typical motored vehicles... I thought it amusing.

squirtdad

what type the upright or the recumbent trikes?

I can see people not gravitating to the recumbent trikes as they a so low they would not give good visibility in traffice. I have seen a few of these type on MUP and on foothill express way, which has a wide bike lanes is very popular for weekend cycling.

I-Like-To-Bike

Usually I try to imagine something with a hint of believability.
73 virgins waiting for me in the future would be COOL too, and is probably more likely than roads filled with recumbent trikes, especially with younger riders.

njkayaker

Siu Blue Wind

You guys stop.