The Draisine is the first reliable claim for a practically used precursor to the bicycle, basically the first commercially successful two-wheeled, steerable, human-propelled machine, nicknamed hobby-horse or dandy horse.

The term draisine is derived from German Baron Karl Christian Ludwig Drais von Sauerbronn, who invents his Laufmaschine (German for "running machine") in 1817, that  is called Draisine (German) or Draisienne (French) by the press.

Drais is a prolific inventor, but this is his most popular and widely recognized invention.

It incorporates the two-wheeler principle that is basic to the bicycle and motorcycle and is the beginning of mechanized personal transport.

This is the earliest form of a bicycle, without pedals.

His first reported ride from Mannheim to the "Schwetzinger Relaishaus" (a coaching inn, located in "Rheinau", today a district of Mannheim) takes place on June 12, 1817, using Baden's best road.