雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. Although many people think the bicycle was invented in the 19th century, early prototypes appeared in the 18th century. The first two-wheeled vehicle, called a 'velocipede', was created in 1817 by a German inventor. However, it had no pedals; riders pushed their feet against the ground. In the 1860s, French inventors added pedals to the front wheel, which made riding faster but also more dangerous. It wasn't until the 1880s that the 'safety bicycle' with a chain drive and equal-sized wheels became popular, making cycling accessible to everyone.