Choosing an adult tricycle

Some people stop riding a bike when balancing at junctions starts to feel hard.

A tricycle stays upright when it stops, so that worry goes away. Trikes are wider than bikes, though, so storing and carrying one takes some thought. These notes cover the main kinds, what to check and the rules for riding one in the UK.

Why three wheels help

Cycling UK, the national cycling charity, says trikes remove the need to balance. They are steadier at low speed and when standing still. Starting and stopping feel simpler.

That suits many riders. Cycling UK names older people who want to keep cycling, people recovering from injury or surgery, and people with conditions like arthritis, MS or Parkinson's.

The main kinds

An upright trike looks most like a normal bike, usually with one wheel at the front and two at the back. A recumbent trike has a reclined seat with a back rest and the pedals out in front. It sits low, so a flag and good lights help drivers see it.

An electric trike adds a motor to help on hills and longer trips. Tandem and side-by-side trikes let two people ride together.

Storing and carrying a trike

A trike takes up more room than a bike. Cycling UK suggests checking a trike's width against a standard UK doorway, which is around 762mm.

Think about where it will live and how it will travel. Some riders need a car rack or a trailer. A trike that folds or comes apart can make this easier, so ask the seller to show you how it folds and how much the heaviest part weighs.

What to check before you buy

Cycling UK suggests looking closely at a few things.

How easy it is to get on and off, and the seat height.
Whether the seat is a saddle or has a back rest.
Whether you can reach and squeeze the brake levers comfortably.
A parking brake, which helps when getting on and off or stopping on a slope.
Whether there is someone local who can service it.

It is worth trying a few before you choose. Inclusive cycling centres often have trikes to try, with staff who can help.

Electric trikes

An electrically assisted pedal cycle can have more than two wheels. It must have pedals that can move it. Its motor must have a continuous rated power of no more than 250 watts, and must stop helping above 15.5mph. If it meets those rules, you do not need a licence, registration, tax or insurance. You must be 14 or over.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards advises buying from a trusted seller and looking for the UKCA or CE mark. Use the right charger. Charge the battery when you are awake and at home, away from routes you would use to escape a fire.

Riding on the road

The Highway Code says you must not cycle on the pavement. At night, a trike must have a white front light, a red rear light and a red rear reflector. Amber pedal reflectors are also required on cycles made after 1 October 1985. The Code also recommends fitting a bell.

Help with the cost

If you are disabled or have a long-term illness, you do not pay VAT on products designed or adapted for your disability. Being older but not disabled does not qualify. You will need to confirm in writing that you qualify.

Some employers run a Cycle to Work scheme. The government's 2019 guidance for employers counts tricycles as cycles, and electric ones can be included.