Cycling UK Forum

I think that I know the answer to this, that it is legally "just another bicycle" but not 100% sure.

Is there any way at all in which an enclosed trike (Velomobile Quest) is different in law to a standard bicycle. In particular is there any additional legal limitation on where it can be ridden.

Can't answer your legal question but if you are going to run the quest will you post a review of your experience with it. It might be interesting to others on here apart from myself.

Actually theres a series of vids on youtube with the theme of being stopped by police in the us wben riding a velomobile. All by same chap. The owner is a bit pedantic about it but the police quite often are baffled by the fact it's a bicycle and the speed it goes. But they often show a bad attitude too. In the us it is classed as a bicycle seemingly. There is the odd one from uk too.

This may help in some part

https://bicycles.stackexchange.com/questions/10930/are-velomobiles-street-legal-in-the-uk

I'm not familiar with velomobiles, is it possible to give arm signals in them (in yours)? Maybe some have flashing indicators? But I think, if we're being legalistic, only arm signals are recognized in UK law for pedal cycles. But if you had flashing light signals I can't see that being a problem in practice, just as pedal reflectors aren't.

Thinking about it, I guess it's probably only racing velomobiles that are fully enclosed are with the others you can give normal arm signals.

I dont actually have one, I am gathering information in advance.

Lots of things which I had not considered, when riding alongside a velomobile, I noticed that he did a right turn sign with his left arm over his head, which was not totally obvious. Not easy to get arms out as the body is shoulder height.

An interesting point how are you supposed to signal? may be I have to venture into the dark forum.
Before I ride one.

So far I have only rolled down hill in one as there was no room to turn the pedals with my legs.

Turning left in a car without indicators is to stick you arm out of the (RH) window and rotate it.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway ... road-users

Therefore, I see no problem legally, but a problem that most road users don't understand the rules.

You are central in the Quest, so neither arm is intrinsically easier than the other, though in practice it may be a matter of using your more flexible arm. I dont know how easy it will be get either arm out.

I thought they had electric indicators and fitted lights front and rear. It'd be strange if they hadnt as when enclosed in with rain cover on you'd never give a hand signal. They have mirrors on them too. Or are these things i mention add on options, that would be poor design.

For 6500 euro i'd more than expect indicators and lights.

Website says comes standard with front and rear lights., indicators and brake lights. Very good.

The one which I am borrowing is very old, an early one. It may have indicators, the one which I have had a sit in was not a Quest but a homemade wooden one.

I have found a manual for the newer ones.
http://www.velomobiel.nl/handleidingen/ ... s_2013.pdf

They look bl**dy good fun . I saw some review on the mango which i think is a lighter velo than the quest. I think uphill would be the biggest drawback but on balance average speeds look very much better from the aero aspect. Theres a finnish chap whose done some good reviews of his velo and a chap in London with his quest racing roadies.

Cosy in wet/cold weather too and stable. Enjoy the testing.

meic wrote:I think that I know the answer to this, that it is legally "just another bicycle" but not 100% sure.

Is there any way at all in which an enclosed trike (Velomobile Quest) is different in law to a standard bicycle. In particular is there any additional legal limitation on where it can be ridden.

well it is a tricycle for a start, if that makes a difference.

Mirrors and indicators are optional extras on this kind of velomobile; those who want to use them on the road tend to have both. Legally speaking the indicators probably have no status (they have precious little on cars in terms of useage) but they are most likely to be seen and understood on a velomobile IMHO. One of my chums has used such a device a fair amount and he thought it was great fun. However he also found that whilst other road users mostly gave him a wide berth, there were some 'road rage' incidents, and there is always the (small) possibility that you just might not be seen at all.

The other issues are ground clearance and steering lock. IIRC the Quest is one of the better ones in both respects but some parts of the cyclepath infrastructure (not to mention some speed bumps) will be difficult/impossible to negotiate. Most velomobiles won't allow a U turn in a narrow road, and you will need to use the "flintstone's reverse gear" to make a 37 point turn instead.

BTW on an ordinary (DF upright) bicycle, in the case of an imminent collision of some kind there are always last resorts such as running off the road, bunny hopping kerbs, throwing yourself into the hedge, over a car etc. In a velomobile, not so much.

cheers

I dont know if Flintstone's reverse gear is possible. When going backwards, the cranks turn and I am not sure if that will leave room for legs doing a reverse.
Turning circle is 9 metres my average road is 9 feet. I expect there will be some getting out done on occasions.

There are rather fierce speed bumps either side of my house and not even a pavement to use to avoid them. At least it will prevent me from entering the village at 50mph.

I may have to break the habit of a lifetime and find a helmet from somewhere, I am much less likely to roll it as I am only borrowing it and will be being very careful but I have a feeling there is no way to just duck down into it.

Though for now I am having great difficulty getting a response from the machine's present keeper.

re the flintstones reverse; the saving grace may be that the gearing makes the pedals turn very slowly when going backwards. On a ~50" gear it works out that you can roll ~1m backwards (which is often about what is required in a 37 point turn) and the pedals do about 1/4 turn or something.

At least you usually have footholes in a Quest; some velos don't even have that, and reversing relies on the rider having baboon length arms so that they can reach out to the front wheels and work them, wheelchair style.

cheers

'Dunno about Quests, but I sit so low in my WAW that it's use the indicators or nothing (shoulder top below cockpit rim). Whilst IME most bike paths are OK until you get to anti-motorcycle gates etc., the big problem for the WAW is grounding the nose on ramp transitionslike this one which has to be taken at an angle and VERY slowly.
(I used to hit my heels on that one when on my recumbent trike until I fitted shorter cranks.) Ordinary road speed bumps have been OK, so far!

Legally, you're pretty much hosed on a 'bent in any case if you really insist on dotted i-s and crossed t-s as pedal reflectors visible to the rear aren't going to happen.
Of course, most bikes with clipless pedals fail there, and Sarah Storey's bike doesn't have independent brakes so that isn't strictly kosher, and so on. Back before blinkies were formally legal I never came across anyone being hauled over the coals for using them, though that might have happened.

Unicycles fall between legal definitions so technically don't exist, but are rare enough that that's a non-issue... I wonder if velomobiles sit in that particular hole too?

Pete.