雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. While many people think of the bicycle as a relatively modern invention, its origins actually date back to the early 19th century. The first two-wheeled vehicle, called the 'draisine', was invented by Karl von Drais in 1817. It had no pedals; riders pushed themselves along with their feet. Later, in the 1860s, pedals were added to the front wheel, giving rise to the 'penny-farthing' with its large front wheel. However, it wasn't until the 1880s that the 'safety bicycle' with a chain drive and two equal-sized wheels became popular, making cycling much safer and more accessible to the general public.