Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. The first two-wheeled vehicle, called a draisine, was invented in 1817 by Karl von Drais. It had no pedals; riders pushed their feet against the ground. In the 1860s, pedals were added to the front wheel, creating the velocipede. However, this design was uncomfortable due to its rigid frame and iron wheels. Later, in the 1870s, the high-wheel bicycle became popular, but it was dangerous because riders could easily fall forward. Finally, in 1885, John Kemp Starley introduced the 'safety bicycle' with a chain drive and two equal-sized wheels, which made cycling much safer and led to the modern bicycle design.