There is a bike for everyone. There are bikes for just about every specific need, even hand-pedaling bikes. You just have to find the correct bike for the rider.
This is a hybrid. It has the same wheel size as a road racing bike, but a wider tire. You still have the upright seating position, but because the bike has the gearing to go faster and farther, you bend over and steer with the flat bar to go fast or corner.