During this year’s European Mobility Week, the InclusiveSpaces project and the MBE and MPH/VeloLab teams brought the TripleTread adaptive tricycle to a wide public for the first time. Throughout the two-day Car-Free Weekend in central Budapest on September 20th, visitors of all ages stopped to learn about the prototype, share their experiences, and test-ride the trike in real urban conditions. 

Budapest’s Mobility Week offers an ideal setting for showcasing inclusive mobility solutions: a fully accessible, spacious riverside area closed to traffic. Despite unusually hot weather, the stand attracted both locals and international visitors. The shared InclusiveSpaces-MBE booth created a useful synergy, children played with MBE’s accessible design activity while adults tried the tricycles. 

Many passers-by were looking for safe cycling alternatives for older relatives or people recovering from injuries. Certain patterns emerged clearly from visitor feedback: 

What people appreciated 

• Stability and safety: three wheels and electric assist were widely praised. 

• Aesthetics and design: many visitors stopped because the trike looked modern and appealing. 

• Potential for ageing populations: strong interest from relatives of older adult riders. 

Where riders struggled 

• First metres & turning: beginners found the initial steering and turning “not intuitive”, requiring guidance and practice. 

• Seat height: some visitors felt the saddle was too high to mount safely. 

• Lack of storage: many asked for a small cargo box or basket. 

Insights from technically experienced users 

Participants with engineering or cycling-building experience pointed to potential improvements, including: 

• enhanced suspension for lateral stability 

• replacing metal-to-metal rotating parts with bearings 

• ergonomic adjustments (seat comfort, footrests, lower step-through frame) 

• alternative seating positions for users with balance issues 

To complement these impressions, participants were also invited to complete a questionnaire to capture more detailed feedback. 

Questionnaire highlights 

Fourteen visitors completed the on-site questionnaire, giving a broader picture of user needs: 

• Rideability: mostly rated “quite good” or “very good” after initial adaptation. 

• Safety perception: majority felt “somewhat safe” on the first ride. 

• Transport practicality seen as “bulky but manageable”. 

• Design: unanimously rated “very appealing”. 

• Future improvements: foldability, lighter materials, ergonomic comfort, better stability when turning. 

• Potential users: older adults, people with balance difficulties, and anyone seeking a more stable cycling option. 

• Key barrier identified: lack of accessible tricycles on the market, and affordability. 

Respondents also noted that social stigma around tricycle use appears low, but perceptions may vary by age and gender. 

Why this matters 

The Budapest testing confirms what previous expert interviews in InclusiveSpaces predicted: design elements such as handlebar type, saddle comfort, and overall stability are crucial for users with mobility or balance challenges. Many older adults, and their families, are actively searching for safe, confidence-building cycling alternatives, but the current market offers too few options. 

Real-world testing like this provides vital insight for improving TripleTread and expanding its usability for a wider range of riders, and the InclusiveSpaces team will actively integrate this feedback into the next development steps to ensure the tricycle better meets users’ needs.