After about five years on a recumbent I just don't feel ~safe~ on a standard bike any more. If I go down on my bent, which I have twice now, I hit on my butt and slide feet first toward whatever, I'm also at a good bit lower height than on a standard Diamond Frame bike so I don't hit as hard. Go down on a DF bike and you are likely to be going head first and you're going to hit with your head and hands, elbows and so on, I've done that enough times in my life that I have lost count.
Another reason I feel safer on a bent is that cars tend to give you a lot more room than on a DF bike, I'm far from the only one to notice this, I've read quite a few comments from other bent riders that indicate that car drivers are less aggressive with them on the bent than on a DF bike.
Particularly if you want to ride for longer distances at slightly lower speeds a bent is good. If you have back, neck, wrist or shoulder issues a bent may be a good choice for you. If you are in a moderate reclining position then visibility forward and to the sides is excellent, you will want rear view mirrors though because looking over your shoulder is more difficult.
The single hardest part of riding a bent is starting off uphill, pushing hard enough on one pedal to get enough momentum to pick the other foot up and get it on the pedal and continue the motion takes some practice and you have to be in the right gear before you start pedaling which means you have to get in the right gear before you stop.
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