It's a recumbent, Jim.......but, not as we know it

[Geoff.D]

I couldn't decide if this was -

1. The ultimate recumbent that took no effort on the part of the recumbent rider
2. A prototype in the development of a four wheeled HPV/velomobile
3. An attempt to bring together the disciples of df's and dark siders
4. The first hybrid vehicle

(Courtesy of The Times)

[Elizabethsdad]

Looking at it, the chap in the middle doesn't actually appear to have any legs - some kind of disabled/patient transport?

[squeaker]

'Bicycle' ambulance?

[Cyril Haearn]

Maybe all four answers are right

One wonders who is in charge, who steers? What uniforms are they wearing?

[Geoff.D]

Maybe all four answers are right

One wonders who is in charge, who steers? What uniforms are they wearing?

The photo is actually from the archives of the St.John's Ambulance who are celebrating 140 years of their history. This is one of their ambulances and four volunteers from the 1910's. It doesn't say whether the fifth chap is really injured or a volunteer (or a mannequin!!).

I presume that the guy with the sash is in charge and steers. There's a steering rod going across the front, so I would imagine that one set of handlebars is fixed in the "ahead" position, whilst the other side steers. I also presume that the uniforms are St John's Ambulance. The guys on the left (in the photo) appear to have more insignia than the other two.

[Audax67]

There were several forms of bicycle ambulance - one I've seen looks like a cargo bike from Hell, with the patient up front and a single poor devil pedalling away at the back. Hard to imagine it being deployed in the Somme.

[Brucey]

the machine has a peculiar construction beneath. It is almost as if it is designed to fold to a 'narrow track' configuration once a few bits and pieces are loosened or detached.
Also, is that a hood to go over the patient/passenger?

I can only suppose that if the cranks on both sides are run perfectly in phase with one another, the whole machine might shake itself to bits in no time.

Also if the brakes are used hard and the stretcher isn't secure, the patient might have a slightly longer trip than the other chaps!

cheers