Trikes
Table of Contents
Introduction
Trikes are often seen as training-devices to help kids learn to ride bikes, but they can be appropriate alternatives for kids or adults with physical disabilities, inner-ear problems or neurological issues such as seizures. They can safely transport groceries, backpacks, pets, or even children on the rear basket or foot bar.
Adaptability for Disabilities
Trikes can be custom built or be fitted with attachments, making them even easier to use, with a variety of disabilities, including strength, coordination, and balance issues.
Safety First!
Eco-friendly traveling can require us to consider things we might not have worried about before. Letting kids travel to school on their own can be scary for us adults, but sometimes our fears aren't reflected by the data. For example some people worry about their kids being safe from strangers when out on their bikes, but studies found that girls with bikes were safer than girls without access to bikes, because they could move more freely and faster than children on foot.
Similarly people assume cars keep their kids safe, but the data shows most travel-related deaths being linked to drivers of cars.
Whether you walk or ride with your kid, or let them travel alone, children will be safer if you:
Establish rules and boundaries. Let them know if there is a road they can't pass, this boundary should expand as their become more reliable. Tell them if there is a time they need to be home by, and who to go to if they can't get home or another emergency happens.
If your mode of travel requires safety gear like a helmet or knee pads, make sure these fit properly and that children know they have to wear them every time they want to ride or roll. Click here to learn about properly fitting a helmet and basic bike-safety tips.
Travel around with them before letting them go out alone. Young children need to learn with a trusted adult how to safely cross a road, where important land marks are (the park or library for example), this can help them avoid getting lost.
Make a plan for you child in case they get lost. This should include an up-to date photo of your child, as well as making sure they know who to ask for help, such as a shop clerk or police officer.
Get involved in your community's safety programs.
General Tips for Stress-Free Travel
Don't feel like you have to change 100% of your habits immediately. If you don't usually walk or cycle, then start with one day a week, or just mornings or just afternoons, then build your muscles. Slowly challenge yourself to do more, or choose transport mode according to where else you will need to go on a given day, or with respect to weather conditions.
Try a test trip to places like school or your doctor's office before your scheduled visit. This will let you know if you need to add more time for to cross at intersections, or if a short cut through a park will let you cut off a few minutes that would have been spent sitting in traffic with your regular drive.
Bring water and a snack for long trips.
Wear appropriate protection. A sun hat or cap, umbrella, rain coat, and appropriate shoes or warm clothes can make the difference between a fun journey and extreme discomfort. Check the weather in case a cold front or storm hit in the afternoon.
Use map or app if you are in a new place.
Take breaks! This is especially important if you have a smaller child, or one of you isn't used to the new mode of travel. Little kids may want to be picked up, or get tired of skates before they get to the end of your street. Starting with short trips, with plenty of breaks will help build their muscles, and keep the learning process fun.
Benefits of Trikes
Safer Than Bikes
Trikes are often seen as training-devices to help kids learn to ride bikes, but they can be appropriate alternatives for kids or adults with physical disabilities, inner-ear problems or neurological issues such as seizures. They can safely transport groceries, backpacks, pets, or even children on the rear basket or foot bar.
Electric Trikes
Adapted Tricycles
Amy's EHDU Handcycle - Freedom Concepts Adaptive Tricycles
0:41 minute video shows how easily a rider can pull themselves into an adaptive trike, strap in for safety, and have an adults push the trike, or the rider can hand peddle on their own.
USI Adaptive Tricycle
0:11 minute video showing how an adaptive trike can be peddled with a riders hands instead of feet. The breaking can be done by holding the peddles still.
Rifton Adaptive Bike/Tricycle - Special Needs Bicycle - Trike
5:41 minute video shows the different features including optional trays and backrests. Multiple types of breaks, foot straps, anti-tipping feature, and other features can make these particularly safe for riders with a variety of mobility and coordination problems.
Adaptable & Flexible Designs
Tricycle-Style Wheelchair Attachments
The following probably don't count as active transport but can help wheelchair users switch easily and affordably to a faster mode of transportation without having to leave their wheelchairs. The devices easily attach and detach, can be charges, and can go basically anywhere a regular wheelchair can go.
Blumil GO - Handcycle Power Add on for Manual Wheelchairs
1:17 minute video shows to Blumil GO An "Electric handbike attachment for rigid frame wheelchairs. Turn your own wheelchair into an electric handcycle with just one push of a button."
1:14 minute video showing the easy attachment and use of an electric trike attachment for a wheelchair. These can be used on grass, cobble stone, and other surfaces for daily tasks such as dog walking.
Economic Opportunities
Because they are more table, the three wheel design makes transporting goods, groceries, and other things much safer. Electric assist means heavier loads can be taken further.
Cold Goods
Refrigerated coolers can carry ice-cream and other cold goods.
Safety Tips
On & Off-Road Safety
How to Get Your Child to Wear a Bike Helmet "Riding a bicycle is an excellent way for kids to spend time outdoors getting exercise. It's also an Earth friendly way to get around. Falls from bicycles cause serious head and facial injuries, though, so make sure your child wears a helmet for every ride.
Here are tips on how to help your child get into the habit."
Organizations
For cycling organizations, click the Bike Advocacy Groups button to learn which organizations are working in your area, or explore the International section for resource on how to start your own group.
International
Safe Kids Worldwide® "is a nonprofit organization working to help families and communities keep kids safe from injuries. Most people are surprised to learn preventable injuries are the #1 killer of kids in the United States. Throughout the world, almost one million children die of an injury each year, and almost every one of these tragedies is preventable.
Safe Kids works with an extensive network of more than 400 coalitions in the United States and with partners in more than 30 countries to reduce traffic injuries, drownings, falls, burns, poisonings and more."TUMI "supports transport projects all around the world and enables policy makers to transform urban mobility. TUMI is based on three pilars: innovation, knowledge, investment. We support innovative pilot projects around the whole world. We share knowledge with planners about modern mobility concepts, in workshops and conferences. We invest in construction and modernisation of sustainable urban infrastructure."
Working Bikes "gives donated bicycles new life by redistributing them as tools of empowerment in local and global communities. Since its inception in 1999, the amazing community of Working Bikes volunteers, staff, partners, and supporters have enabled new life for 100,000 bicycles across the globe and tens of thousands here in Chicago. Over one hundred thousand people have been empowered to access resources and opportunities that otherwise could have been out of reach - reducing waste, lessening pollution, and improving health in the process. Working Bikes is located in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood, and is a 501(c)(3) organization."
North America
National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) "NACTO’s mission is to build cities as places for people, with safe, sustainable, accessible, and equitable transportation choices that support a strong economy and vibrant quality of life."
Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC) is a national clearinghouse for information about health and safety, engineering, advocacy, education, enforcement, access, and mobility for pedestrians (including transit users) and bicyclists. PBIC's mission is to improve the quality of life in communities through the increase of safe walking and bicycling as a viable means of transportation and physical activity. To accomplish that mission, the PBIC manages several websites, produces a variety of reports, guides and case studies, and offers training and technical assistance.
Walk Friendly Communities is a national recognition program developed to encourage towns and cities across the U.S. to establish or recommit to a high priority for supporting safer walking environments. Communities are recognized for working to improve a wide range of conditions related to walking, including safety, mobility, access and comfort.
USA
National Complete Streets Coalition News of complete streets activities from around the country and proposed federal legislation plus resources including fact sheets and a PowerPoint presentation.
Illinois
Working Bikes "gives donated bicycles new life by redistributing them as tools of empowerment in local and global communities. Since its inception in 1999, the amazing community of Working Bikes volunteers, staff, partners, and supporters have enabled new life for 100,000 bicycles across the globe and tens of thousands here in Chicago. Over one hundred thousand people have been empowered to access resources and opportunities that otherwise could have been out of reach - reducing waste, lessening pollution, and improving health in the process. Working Bikes is located in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood, and is a 501(c)(3) organization."
New York
Transportation Alternatives "For 50 years, Transportation Alternatives has led the movement for safe, equitable streets in New York City. TA uses a combination of neighborhood-level grassroots organizing and citywide advocacy to push for changes in public policy, street design, enforcement, and resource allocation that transform our city’s streets for the better."
The Transportation Renaissance in NYC is being Led by THIS Group
23:24 minute video "Discover the transformative infrastructure changes that TA has advocated for over the years- like the iconic Prospect Park West protected bike lane, the game-changing Queens Boulevard redesign, and the ever-expanding network of Citi Bike stations."
Texas
CASA Speaks 4 Kids: Donated Bikes for Kids in Foster Care "accept[s] donations of bikes that are in like-new condition. If you have a bike or know of someone that may have a bike they would be interested in donating, please contact us and we will coordinate. We will accept all kinds of bikes but are especially seeking tricycles, balance bikes, and boys’ bikes with 16” wheels."
Maps
North America
USA
Walk Friendly Community Map "A Walk Friendly Community is a city or town that has shown a commitment to improving and sustaining walkability and pedestrian safety through comprehensive programs, plans, and policies. Communities apply to the program to receive recognition in the form of a Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum designation. [With this map] you can sort and view profiles for communities that have been designated since the program began in 2011."
Washington
Explore the Walkability of DC Neighborhoods (Interactive) "Select a neighborhood to learn more about who lives in that community"
Companies
International
Icicle Tricycles "The Icicle Tricycle Vending trike is the best trike for your frozen food or beverage-based business! This vehicle is the perfect pedal-powered platform for a wide variety of vending options. Order one for yourself, or a whole fleet for your team.
Whether you’re a solo peddler, a small business looking to expand your footprint, or even a corporate customer in need of full marketing activation, get rolling right away. Wow the crowd with your Icicle Tricycle, the three-wheeled gateway to getting your product to the masses."
"Icicle Tricycles can be found rolling all over the United States, Canada, and the rest of the world. We have built trikes for small summer businesses, Fortune 500 companies, and everything in between. Our famous ice cream trikes are just the beginning. We provide fully customized trikes to deliver your brand, message, and product right to your target customers. Coffee bikes, beer bikes, juice bikes, salad bikes, soup bikes, donut bikes, a bike decorated with your logo to just ride around town–you dream it, we can help you build it."
North America
USA
Icicle Tricycles "The Icicle Tricycle Vending trike is the best trike for your frozen food or beverage-based business! This vehicle is the perfect pedal-powered platform for a wide variety of vending options. Order one for yourself, or a whole fleet for your team.
Whether you’re a solo peddler, a small business looking to expand your footprint, or even a corporate customer in need of full marketing activation, get rolling right away. Wow the crowd with your Icicle Tricycle, the three-wheeled gateway to getting your product to the masses."
"Icicle Tricycles can be found rolling all over the United States, Canada, and the rest of the world. We have built trikes for small summer businesses, Fortune 500 companies, and everything in between. Our famous ice cream trikes are just the beginning. We provide fully customized trikes to deliver your brand, message, and product right to your target customers. Coffee bikes, beer bikes, juice bikes, salad bikes, soup bikes, donut bikes, a bike decorated with your logo to just ride around town–you dream it, we can help you build it."
Further Reading
You may also be interested in the following.