A drive mechanism for a vehicle propelled by muscle power, wherein the drive mechanism comprises: a first actuating element (104, 105) and a second actuating element (104, 105) which are moveable by a stroke along a movement path and which are moveable around an axle independently from each other; a first driving element and a second driving element; a first gearing comprising a driving shaft; and a first returning element, and a second returning element, wherein the first driving element is coupled between the first actuating element (104, 105) and the driving shaft in such a way that the actuating element stroke induces a movement of the driving shaft in a first direction; wherein the second driving element is coupled between the second actuating element (104, 105) and the driving shaft in such a way that stroke of the second actuating element induces a movement of the driving shaft in the first direction; wherein the first returning element is coupled between the first actuating element (104, 105) and the driving shaft in such a way that it induces a movement of the driving shaft in a second direction opposite to the first direction; wherein the second returning element is coupled between the second actuating element (104, 105) and the driving shaft in such a way that it induces a movement of the driving shaft in the second direction opposite to the first direction; wherein the first driving element and the first returning element are fixed to the first actuating element; wherein the first driving element leads to a first direction from the first actuating element and the first returning element leads to a second direction from the first actuating element, wherein the second driving element and the second returning element are fixed to the second actuating element; wherein the second driving element leads to a first direction from the second actuating element and the second returning element leads to a second direction from the second actuating element. a first actuating element (104, 105) and a second actuating element (104, 105) which are moveable by a stroke along a movement path and which are moveable around an axle independently from each other; a first driving element and a second driving element; a first gearing comprising a driving shaft; and a first returning element, and a second returning element, wherein the first driving element is coupled between the first actuating element (104, 105) and the driving shaft in such a way that the actuating element stroke induces a movement of the driving shaft in a first direction; wherein the second driving element is coupled between the second actuating element (104, 105) and the driving shaft in such a way that stroke of the second actuating element induces a movement of the driving shaft in the first direction; wherein the first returning element is coupled between the first actuating element (104, 105) and the driving shaft in such a way that it induces a movement of the driving shaft in a second direction opposite to the first direction; wherein the second returning element is coupled between the second actuating element (104, 105) and the driving shaft in such a way that it induces a movement of the driving shaft in the second direction opposite to the first direction; wherein the first driving element and the first returning element are fixed to the first actuating element; wherein the first driving element leads to a first direction from the first actuating element and the first returning element leads to a second direction from the first actuating element, wherein the second driving element and the second returning element are fixed to the second actuating element; wherein the second driving element leads to a first direction from the second actuating element and the second returning element leads to a second direction from the second actuating element.