Riding a trike is a fun activity. It is often seen as being safer than cycling on two wheels. While riding a trike may be safer, because balance is not as much of a concern, the dangers of the road still apply. That's why in this article we're going to cover some basic rules of the road that every trike rider should follow in order to keep themselves safe.

Rules of the Road

Follow the Law

The first rule of the road that we have for you is to follow the law. Following the law can help to keep you safe while riding on the road. Obey traffic signals, stop signs, and lights while riding. Bikes and trikes have the same rights as other vehicles while on the road and with that comes the same responsibilities.

When riding in the US be sure to use the rightmost lane headed in the direction that you are riding to.

Anticipate

It's a good idea to anticipate what a driver, pedestrian, or other cyclist may do next. Watch for when vehicles may be turning and be sure to give them plenty of room. Look out for obstacles that may be in the road such as debris, potholes, or other hazards.

By anticipating what those around you may do you can avoid potential hazardous circumstances.

Avoid High Traffic Areas

It’s a good idea to avoid high trafficked areas when riding a trike. Look for places to ride that may be out of the way or where there aren’t many vehicles. If you have to ride on main or busy roads use caution and try to ride in the bike lane if possible. If not possible, be sure to own the road and stay in the middle of the lane.

Wear High Visibility Clothing

Staying visible is one of the most important things that you can do to help guarantee your safety on a recumbent trike. Try to wear bright colors such as fluorescents, oranges, yellows, or bright greens while riding. Some riders may find that wearing reflective material or a safety vest can also be helpful.

Assume If You Can't See the Driver Then They Can't See You

Another part of visibility is to keep in mind that if you can't see the driver in a vehicle then it is safe to assume that they can not see you. Do what you can to try and stay in a line of visibility for other people on the road to avoid potential issues that may arise.

Get a Flag

Another tip that goes along with visibility is to purchase a flag for your trike and to use it. Flags can help to add much needed height to your trike and to make you more visible to vehicles that may be taller than your trike.

Headlights and Tail lights

Having bright headlights and tail lights can help other riders to see you on the road during the night and day time. We recommend using a bright headlight such as our CatEye AMPP1100 Headlight. This headlight features a twin LED that provides a maximum output of 1100 lumens for 1.5 hours at full use or a 50 hour run time on flash setting. The hyper constant flash setting is able to grab the attention of other riders even in the day time

Get a Bell or a Horn

When riding on a trike you’re going to want to make others know that you’re there. One of the best ways to do this is by making noise with a bell or a horn. By ringing your bell or honking your horn you’ll be able to send a loud and clear message to those around you that you are there.

Check Your Tire Pressure

Tire pressure can fluctuate. Especially when not riding or having your trike sit for an extended amount of time. We always recommend checking your tire pressure before going on a ride and topping off your tires as needed. Fill your tires to the recommended PSI for your specific trike.

Learn Hand Signals

We recommend learning bicycle hand signals so you can signal to other riders when you’re about to turn or do other things that you may want them to have warning for.

Wear a Helmet

Our last rule of the road for you is also one of our most important and that is to wear a helmet. Wearing a helmet can help to keep you safe and protected in case of an accident. Your head is one of your most valuable assets while out on the road so why shouldn’t you protect it. You want to read more about how helmets can help keep you safe while riding and the helmets that we offer here at Utah Trikes be sure to check out our article on the topic here.

Get Out and Ride

We hope that this article about some of our rules of the road gave you some ideas on how you can keep yourself safe while riding your trike. If you have any suggestions for anything that we have missed be sure to let us know in the comments down below. Thank you for reading and stay safe while out riding! Remember to relax, spin fast, and ride trikes.