They cut down on carbon emissions* and help keep us fit, but bikes are not the safest form of transport, and accidents can cause serious injuries. But a bizarre new design could help to reduce the number of accidents on the roads.

    The Bird of Prey bike replaces the standard bike seat with a new hip rest, putting the cyclist in a leaning forward position, and preventing them from flipping over the handlebars.

    The bike is the brainchild of John Aldridge, an inventor from California. Rather than sitting in a seat, cyclists lean forward with their weight resting on their hips and arms.

    This position allows the rider to “push and pull on the pedals as if he were running with legs fully extended,” according to the website.

    The Bird of Prey claims to be the fastest racing bike in the world, because of its low center of gravity, high speed gears, and ability to overcome wind resistance.

    But the most important attribute that Aldridge wanted to change about cycling with his new design was safety.

    On the website, he writes: “I have flipped over the handlebars on my sit down bike many dangerous and life threatening times. This can’t happen on a Bird of Prey.”(SD-Agencies)