Frequently Asked Questions

Trikke Tours: The usual starting point for Trikke tours is the open plaza area next to Raleigh Union Station (train station). It’s a large open area at the corner of West and Martin Streets in downtown Raleigh’s Warehouse District.

Walking Tours: Our usual meeting place for Walking tours is at the Sir Walter Statue outside the Raleigh Convention Center on Salisbury St in downtown Raleigh.

NOTE: The above info for both types of tours could be different for your tour if customized arrangements have been prearranged or if downtown city events necessitate a temporary change. So always follow the information communicated with your booked tour.

For our Trikke tours, all high-touch equipment surfaces are sanitized between excursions. We also have hand sanitizer available on site for guests. We follow state, local and CDC Covid-19 safety guidelines.  

Trikke and Walking tours are by advance reservation only.

Yes! Our staff is fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

Most people find it very easy to learn! Trikkes have familiar steering like a bicycle, and they have a throttle on the handlebar for power, similar to a scooter. There is a brake on the handlebar for braking. The whole frame leans with you, making it a dynamic and ACTIVE ride. We provide an equipment orientation and rider training at the start of every tour. We find that with most people, if they’re comfortable riding a bicycle or scooter (or if you skate or ski), then learning how to ride a Trikke will be very easy.

Please wear clothes that match the weather, nothing too loose or hanging. In hot weather, we recommend sunscreen and sunglasses. In cold weather, bring coats, gloves, and scarves (toboggans/beanies can be worn underneath our helmets too). We provide helmets, but if you have a bicycle helmet, you’re welcome to bring your own. Due to the active nature of our Trikke tours, closed-toe athletic shoes are strongly recommended.

Yes, you are required to wear a bicycle helmet. We provide them, or you can bring your own.

We do NOT have storage for your personal items other than our Trikkes’ cargo nets for small purses, light jackets, or a water bottle. Pockets in your clothing or a small lightweight backpack are best for keys, phones, wallets, and other personal items.

Our minimum age to ride a Trikke is 14 years old. No exceptions. This is an insurance requirement. The maximum rider weight for our Trikke tours is 260 pounds. All attendees who are age 14-17 must have a responsible adult ride with them on tour, and all riders (regardless of age) need to complete and sign a liability waiver. Minors must have their waivers signed by a parent or legal guardian.

You’re welcome to bring your camera or smartphone, but since you need both hands on the Trikke’s handlebars while in motion, please don’t use any handheld type of electronic device while in motion. When we’re stopped (we make frequent stops waiting for signal lights or while telling different stories, or if we’re taking a more extended break), then we encourage you to take photos. Or, you can ask our guides to take one for you. Our guides will also usually take one or two group photos and email those to you.

The Trikkes’ cargo nets are not suitable for holding a camera or phone, so you should wear clothing with pockets to carry those items (or bring a small backpack or small purse) if you’d like to take photos at our various stops with your own camera.

Our tour guides are scheduled based on bookings. Due to the nature of a tour business, once you book a slot, it is yours and no longer available to others. Therefore, our policy is no refunds.

With a minimum of 24 hours’ notice (by email or phone), you may reschedule your tour for any reason to another day by emailing or calling us. We’ll issue you an electronic gift card for your credit (sent to you via email). Your tour credit does not expire. If you do not provide any notice within our notification period, your tickets are forfeited and not available for future use.

In the event of inclement weather that could interfere with the tour, we cancel the tour and notify you about 90 minutes before your tour at the phone number you provided with your booking. (So please be sure to provide a good phone number.) We may also text you too.

If we cancel a tour due to weather, we will issue you an electronic gift card for your unused tickets; this will be emailed to you. No refunds are provided. Your credit does not expire.

Light showers usually do not lead to a cancellation (we provide rain ponchos), but thunderstorms, heavy rain potential and other adverse conditions likely will. Carolina Touring Company will make the final determination if a tour is cancelled due to rain, snow, or other undesirable weather.

Guests may reschedule for any reason with at least 24 hours’ notice by email or phone.

Tours sell out (especially on weekends or during popular holiday periods/school breaks), so if you need a particular date, time, or tour, then we highly recommend you book well in advance. Our booking numbers are also what we use to staff our tours and how much equipment we bring on site. The cut-off time for online booking is usually two hours before a tour. We rarely take walk-ups.

Unfortunately, no. For safety reasons, pregnant guests are not allowed to participate in our tours.

Your guided Trikke tour rides past the highlighted attractions, or may make an extended stop in front of some landmarks or sites, but you do not go inside the points of interest.

All of our tours feature a lot of Raleigh history! Our knowledgeable guides provide live narration about the landmarks you see, and they include interesting stories about the personalities of the people who made Raleigh the vibrant city it is today.

We request that all Trikke tour guests arrive just 15 minutes prior to your tour time. This ensures that we get a timely start to the tours. Please allow yourself time to find parking, especially if you’re unfamiliar with our location. There is no reason to arrive on-site earlier than 15 minutes before a tour.

• Closest parking — WEEKDAYS (M-F), the most convenient parking to our Raleigh Union Station Plaza meeting spot is right across the street! It’s The Dillion Parking Deck, 215 S. West St., which is a multistory parking structure that charges hourly (when you exit).
• WEEKENDS (Sat-Sun and major holidays): You can usually find free street parking (refer to posted signs and meters) surrounding our location. If they’re filled, then we recommend the (NOT free) Dillion Parking Structure across the street. Please allow adequate time to park and arrive for your tour 15 MINUTES EARLY to check-in. Tours depart promptly. Please be courteous to others and arrive on time.

For Walking Tours, there is no need to arrive before your tour time. For meeting location, it’s usually outside the Raleigh Convention Center, but please refer to your emailed notification.

Yes! We are happy to work with you to schedule a custom time for your group. We need advance notice. All Trikke tours operate during daylight hours only. (There is much more flexibility for the timing of walking tours.)

Yes! There are many wonderful restaurants near our Raleigh Union Station Plaza meeting spot for our Trikke tours. These include the popular Morgan Street Food Hall, Parkside restaurant, and The Pit, all are located within a few city blocks from our site.

Yes! We also do guided Walking Tours. They are booked on a request basis only and require a minimum of 4 persons (max of 100). These tours are fully guided, two hours in length, and are a great option if your party prefers to walk than ride, or if you have a large group.

Another activity that we offer for groups (minimum of 4, maximum of 10) is our Trikke Treasure Hunt. This is a more interactive experience than our regular tours. One of our knowledgeable guides will guide your team through downtown on electric Trikkes, where you’ll find hidden treasure caches, solve riddles, and hear cool historical info about Raleigh!

If you’d like to book a walking tour or a Trikke treasure hunt, please fill out our Group Tours form to request a tour date or quote!

Yes, and greatly appreciate them! Our knowledgeable guides work very hard to make your experience fun and interesting. And they really know their stuff!  There’s no “script reading” on any of our tours. If you’d like to acknowledge their excellent service with a tip, please leave it with them at the end of your tour. Cash is preferred, but credit cards and Venmo can also be used for tips.