I could see this being useful. Not everyone who uses a wheel chair is paralyzed. Some have balance issues, or limited strength. Dividing the effort between arms and legs could give increased independence and it would be more ergonomic than scooting with the feet like a lot of people end up doing in wheel chairs.

Sure, it's not super different from a recumbent bike (and seems to lack a steering mechanism) but if the pedals could be folded out of the way it could be easier for a person with mobility issues to get in and out of.

I once suggested a similar project at our company. One of our products is labelled in braille. For technical reasons it was the easiest way to drill holes in the front plate and stick a transparent plastic insert through from the back.

My suggestion was to add a few blue LEDs behind it to light up those braille dots. It would have been meaningless for the intended user - but it would have looked way cool!

They exist, but the pedals are higher, for your arms! I used to work with a guy who did this: every day at lunchtime he’d go zooming around the parking lot getting a good workout in

https://bike-on.com/product-category/shop-handcycles/attachable-handcycles/

I mean, there are people who need a wheelchair but are still able to use this.

It took me longer then i want to admit to realise why this is a bad idea

Honestly, this might be good for use as a therapy device for people that perhaps have weak arms and legs and perhaps cannot stand up. Dividing the work required in this way has some merit to at least be studied or researched, if it hasn't already.

Gotta have a 100 bad ideas before you discover a good one.

Like what if you added hand pedals?

They is surely people whose handicap allow to use their legs but not to stand up. Come to think of it, I know some people who are this way.

I have this meme in my roll and I've been scared to post it lmao

I was like: wow this is actually genious... oh.

Recumbent bikes are a thing. That is basically this

1. You need to cover the chain for safety during operation.

2. You need foot straps and side leg protectors/support.

Could this possibly exercise leg and foot muscles of people with no lower mobility due to spinal/nerve injuries?

To qualify for a wheelchair under American insurance, you have to be unsafe to use a walker or cane for mobility, be primarily wheelchair bound (need person to help transfer you or have enough upper body to transfer yourself), etc. Most patients I think of that I discharge with a wheelchair would not be able to use this device...

For those that can use something like this, there are so many micro mobility things out there. As someone pointed out recumbent bicycles already exist.

Wall-E?