[Velomobile] Problems with velomobiles

[JW Stephens]

Frederik Van De Walle lays out his thoughts on integrating velomobiles
into the cycling infrastructure in his Senior Thesis, which I've
put here: http://www.lobosolo.com/fvdw/Velomobile4SusTrans.pdf

I see additional problems in the USA, in the safety realm. Tricycles
are inherently safe only in a much smaller envelope than North
Americans are used to. Our famous last words here are "Hey guys, watch
this ..." and we all know this is why we don't let yahoos into our
velomobiles. I bet it wouldn't be a month before someone rolled one,
just off the dealer's lot, on a test ride. Those of us who have bought
them so far have been through a learning progression, the value of
which is incredible. Mine was P-38, Trice, Windcheetah, Versatile.

The Bentrider online report about the rollover on the trike just
reinforces what I posted earlier about the inherent danger of losing
that rear contact point on a tadpole layout. For me, on the
Windcheetah, about 40 mph, blew out the sidewall of the rear tire,
which spun the vehicle (always anti-clockwise ... I wonder for you
guys south of the equator, do yours spin clockwise?) and before I
could cogitate, once the vehicle turns 90 degrees to its inertial
vector, it >will< roll. Reliably.

Elrey in Littleton
Versatile Nr. 42