Comfort bikes are all the rage, especially with those who prefer not to ride hunched over on a traditional bike. Bikes with pedal-forward technology allow the rider to put their feet on the ground while sitting in the site, adding to their stability and feeling of security. It also makes pedaling either and combined with the upright handlebars allows for a relaxing ride while taking in the scenery along the way, rather than staring down at the road.
Electra Townie 21D in Seattle, WA. 21 gears, pedal forward technology, and a fun ride all in all. Electra is now owned by Trek. We got ours at REI in Oregon to save on sales tax and get our members 10% rebate. List for 2014 is $519. The 2013 model had a suspension front fork and was $545.
The easy scenic cycling adventures of Richard Fox, author of the 2014 (2nd Ed 2017) guidebook "enCYCLEpedia Southern California – The Best Easy Scenic Bike Rides."