雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. While many people think the bicycle was invented in the 19th century, its origins actually go back to the 18th century. In 1817, a German inventor named Karl von Drais created a two-wheeled vehicle called the 'running machine'. This early model had no pedals and riders pushed themselves along with their feet. Later, in the 1860s, pedals were attached to the front wheel, and by the 1880s, the chain drive system was introduced, making bicycles safer and more efficient. Interestingly, the bicycle played a crucial role in the women's rights movement, as it gave women greater independence and mobility.