I find that if I have both hands on the handlebars then people have more awareness of me and the bike as a single object in the crowd
If the right of the bars is empty then people tend to not realise sometimes and almost bump into it
I think this is because people look at other people and don't always realise there is over a foot of sticky out metal thing outside of the bit encompassed by the person
Depends on the sit6, mostly by Saddle, but if I am carrying anything in either hand ,the free hand grips the stem where the bars are mon- drive side
The recumbent ,I lift the rear wheel and tow it backwards it self steers then.
More Germaine is, how do you mount / dismount, for years it was a leg over the handle bars, which requires a little dexterity, but having a saddle bag or riding fixie, precluded that, sometimes a scooting on the right pedal and swing over the back wheel, more so these days.
The Recumbent isn't so easy I have , a cruciform chassis, bit my Niece demonstrated an elegant way, to mount and dismount from the side, much like an elegant lady getting out of a car,
Not so much me, I am an Ogre, ( green of course)