Dangerous! A menace to the street! These are a couple of the accusations thrown at the Trikke HPV (human powered vehicle) by its critics. Their main concern seems to stem from the fast and wide swerving movements performed by the Trikke scooter. Are the critics correct? Are Trikke scooters really hazardous to other pedestrians when coupled with urban traffic? Let's find out the facts.
When you see the Trikke in action for the first time, you will be amazed at the graceful and seemingly effortless flow exhibited by the rider to move the Trikke scooter without the aid of a mechanical propeller. But what some see as an elegant and controlled dance, some interpret as a swerving and careening monster waiting to force them off the sidewalk into traffic. The same has been said for bicycles and inline skates and skateboards.
Beginner Trick Skateboard
What many may not be aware of, is that riding the Trikke requires some effort, practice, and concentration. Its riders indeed propel the Trikke in a zigzag manner and beginners do make wider swerves. However, beginners rarely practice on crowded streets. Experts advise Trikke greenhorns to hone their Trikke-ing skills on vacant lots where they will have enough room to develop the required skills to safely control their Trikke scooters.
Only when the lessons sink in and these Trikke amateurs develop and master a style of their own will they be ready to look for new challenges. And the other point here is that a Trikke moves a lot like a fish. Just like a fish has to wiggle to swim, the Trikke has to serpentine to move forward. A fish is highly maneuverable and can make wide swerves or tighter turns and still be swimming forward. Pedestrians need not fear that Trikkers will be hogging the entire lane because an experienced Trikke rider can easily narrow his turns to match the space of a bicycle.
Like anything else in life, the Trikke rider can have an accident. The most common accidents found in any sport involving speed are primarily falls and crashes. Riders falling off the Trikke does happen occasionally but it is not common, and definitely occur less frequently than compared to the number of accidental falls from other types of HPVs. Even so, it's still a good idea to wear your helmet and safety gear when out on your Trikke. Moreover, falls from the Trikke often happen to riders who ignore the safety precautions included in the manuals that comes with their Trikke scooters. So play smart.
The Trikke is actually designed with safety and maneuverability in mind. Unlike the two point stance of the bicycle and roller skates, your Trikke scooter has a three-wheeled "V" shaped stance that is very stable, further heightened by the presence of a hand lever braking system for both Trikke rear wheels to control speed. The bulk and rigidness of the bicycle and the boots and wheels strapped to your feet when roller-skating make both of these HPVs more resistant to motion during sudden emergency situations, whereas your Trikke is flexible enough for easy maneuverability. All these allow your Trikke scooter to quickly dodge or brake within crowded areas with total control.
Despite all the disadvantages of other HPVs, people tend to accept their presence on roadsides because of familiarity. Don't let the Trikkes outlandish appearance and speed trick you into the false belief that they are unsafe. If we allow bikes, in-line skates and other HPVs to silently pass by within crowded lanes, realize how much more we can trust the Trikke, which is capable of weaving in and out of crowded areas in total control?
Is the Trikke Safe For the Road?
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