Fancy this! A dog-powered recumbent trike from Mark Schuette, the very same person who delivered the dog-powered scooter. This unique trike uses the same “dog behind a steering wheel” configuration that provides the extra stability offered by a sit-down trike design. In addition, you get double the steering and braking power of a scooter. While the original scooter design allows a human to ride standing up while the dog is harnessed into a frame, being subject to steering and braking. Since the scooter forces the rider to remain standing upright while keeping the entire setup balanced, it certainly isn’t too appealing to certain user groups such as the elderly and physically handicapped. This new trike comes in the form of a tadpole design with a couple of wheels in front while a harness space for your dog is located on each side of the rear wheels.

This special design provides the rider extra precision when it comes to steering control, making it a whole lot safer to navigate through an urban environment. While it has space for a couple of dogs, you can just use one to power it although I’d say leave the chihuahua at home. Just in case you don’t want to overwork your dog, you can always help it out by pedaling this trike for a smoother ride. It tips the scales at roughly the same numbers as a standard bicycle, requiring a small amount of pull/force to maintain a steady speed after the vehicle starts rolling. In addition, it also caters for a hand crank method of propulsion, making it the perfect option for wheel chair athletes.

This unique trike comes with a fender kit to keep your dog safe from the rear spokes, and will retail for $1,100. If you want to add the bolt-on dog rigging kit, it will cost another $200 per dog.

Source: Gizmag