Into the design orthodoxy of the high wheeler, John Lawson introduced his 1879 chain-to-rear-wheel drive Bicyclette:
"It'll never catch on," they said.
well, "they" weren't completely wrong.
It is interesting how the design choices of the high wheeler stuck around in the early safety bikes. The use of a larger front wheel, as shown here, is one example. The use of footpegs (for mounting) on the back of the bike stuck around even longer. The upright rider position, with the bars quite close to the rider, stayed around for a while too.
It does make me wonder if this was because the designer hadn't considered alternatives, or if the designer understood that people wouldn't buy it if the appearance was too different from what customers were accustomed to.
Steve in Peoria