The Townie is one of the new generation crank forward bikes which include the Giant Revive, a couple models from Rans, and several others.
They call it "flat foot technology" which means you can sit on the seat at a stopsigne or red light, and put both feet on the ground.
They are very comfortable to ride, and gearing and features vary widely. Some even have short but comfortable seatbacks, and the seats, though not as comfortable as recumbents, are a lot more comfortable than the best upright bike seats. They tend to be a bit heavier than uprights but less than LWB bents. Entry level prices are less than bents and a bit more than the usual department store starter bikes. But quality is better, too. They are short and light enough to transport on regular bike carriers.
Although I don't have one, (I ride a LWB bent) I personally recommend them to older riders who have not ridden for years, and are doing it for fitness and health and fun. Not for the speedster or long distance rider, but with the coming baby boomers about to retire with their health, back and overweight problems, I think they will sell millions of them. Whenever older people ride my LWB recumbent, I usually point out to them that would probably be even better off with one of the newer crank forward bikes for the quantity and type of riding that they do.
For 95% of "mountain bike" owners who never leave the pavement or at worse gravel roads, and most "hybrid" or "comfort" bike owners, these crank forward bikes are much more comfortable, and make way more sense.
I'd probably buy one if someone produced a folding model.