[kcindric]

Thanks for sharing this! I'm really interested in getting a recumbent because of my back injury (I talk about this in this thread) and I think I'll start exploring all the options. The only two things that are holding me back are a) these types of bikes are more expensive than regular ones, multiple times b) embracing that I can't probably ride a regular bike anymore, it's a mental thing, and it's a mix of grief and fear how will people perceive me.

[chrismorgan]

I’m not entirely sure why there’s so definite a link between being unable to ride a bicycle and riding a recumbent tricycle, though I know it to be so from talking to local manufacturers. For me, I’m perfectly able-bodied, I just wanted to ride a recumbent tricycle because it seemed to me that they would be generally better (for comfort, enjoyment and safety), and I have indeed found it so.

Fear not perception: as a generalisation, people love recumbent tricycles and their riders; my experience is that you will get an overwhelmingly positive reaction. I have observed negative reactions from drivers on a very few occasions (at a rate similar to an upright bicycle, I think), but overtly positive reactions from drivers very regularly, which is not common on an upright bicycle. As for pedestrians, well, if you’re open to it people will talk to you about your vehicle very, very regularly, positively and curiously.