Markm--I meant to say this earlier, though I'm hesitant to get all serious in a fun-hobby-type setting, but anywho...
I also have an autistic son. He's only 4, so who knows if he'll be able to handle a 2 wheeler when the time comes, but I am prepared to deal with anything. I was looking through a catalog of thereputic toys & devices for kids with various impairments & there were a few trikes in there & they were all over a grand! Some had special features, like pedals that move back & forth in a walking motion & seats w/backs like recumbents,& seat belts, but mostly they were not far off from your Atlas (& I know industrial trikes aren't cheap either). The cheapest adult trike on the market is the new Schwinn at around $250, about 3x the cheapest new 2 wheeler. We all know used bikes are a dime a dozen, but trikes are alot less common, so they're much less likely to show up at the thrift shop or at the curb. There are people, from kids to seniors, who for various reasons are unable to ride a normal 2 wheeler & may not be able to afford a new trike. I am a strong beliver in charity & have given bikes to the local free bike shop, though I'm too busy to volunteer there. I would like to make aquiring & fixing trikes for the less fortunate my mission in the not-so-distant future. If I worked w/a non-profit, maybe I/we could get donations from the large corporations who are constantly downsizing--there's possibly 1,000's of industrial trikes around here, but less & less industrial jobs every day. Also, my crusty build off trike is my 1st step in making an "anti-granny" trike--most of us here know 3 wheels are at least as hip as 2, if not more so--but no one should be embarrased to ride a trike. I am reminded of this because of one of my dad's freinds, who is technically a senior (62+) needs to ride for his health, but because of meds he's on, a fall from a 2 wheeler could be lethal. He wouldn't be caught dead (sorry) on a granny trike, but I bet he wouldn't mind a rat/hot rod/kustom trike. Another of his freinds, the same age, is needing a walker, so he's going to get one pinstriped! As for the kids, we've all seen lowrider trikes & that Atlas looks like a 3 wheeled bmx. So the more cool trikes we build, the less anyone should be ashamed to need to ride one, dig?
3 wheels 4 ever!
