雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning, everyone. Today we're going to look at the history of the bicycle. Now, many people assume that the bicycle was invented in the 19th century, and that's partly true. The first two-wheeled vehicle, called a 'velocipede', appeared in France in the 1860s. However, it had no pedals; riders pushed their feet against the ground. It wasn't until 1885 that the 'safety bicycle' with a chain drive and two equal-sized wheels was introduced in England. This design quickly became popular because it was much safer and faster than earlier models. By the early 1900s, bicycles were being mass-produced, making them affordable for ordinary workers.