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Motorcycle Safety
The popularity of faired Ninja 250s and Feet Forward recumbant motorcycles has raised so many comments about riding safety. 'Visionary' of the Project 100 in England and the Vetter Freedom Machine are great examples of 21st century machines that have the growing potential for great fuel efficiency. There have been reservations about the safety of such machines in cross winds and in heavy traffic. The same issues arise for human powered velomobiles. The good news is that proper design accounts for aero stable vehicles with much greater rider protection.
First, a well designed fairing reduces drag by two thirds and can be made to generate some down force.
Second, a faired vehicle can be made more visible to other motorists by its size, color, and lighting. There is also much less of the 'bad ass' image attached to streamliners and more of the eco friendly image.
Third, fairings have great potential for incorporating rider protection methods without losing the sense of the freedom of the open road. Fairings allow for crush zones front and rear. They also can provide side protection for legs, hips, and shoulders.
I encourage you to research technical articles and studies that identify the risks to riders, list causes of accidents, and highlight solutions that reduce the risk of injury. Increasing the number of two or three wheel, single passenger commuter vehicles can reduce fuel consumption, traffic congestion, and highway deterioration.
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