Sociable

The Sociable or Buddy Bike or Side By Side Bicycle is a bicycle that supports two riders who sit side by side.

This type of bicycle should not be confused with a tandem bicycle, where the riders sit fore and aft rather than beside each other.

The sociable is said by some to have been invented by Australian cyclist Hubert Opperman, although in its basic form it has been around for longer, since the end of the 19th century. It was originally marketed by the Punnett Cycle Company. Historically it has been used as a courting bike; gentlemen would be able to spend time with young ladies in an activity that allowed proximity.

There are currently no commercially available sociable two-wheelers, although there are plans in circulation by which a person with welding and metal fabrication skills could make one. There are some sociable three- and four-wheeled machines on the market, however.

Patents

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Wikipedia