雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning, everyone. Today we're going to look at the history of the bicycle. Now, while many people think the bicycle was invented in the 19th century, its origins actually go back further. The first two-wheeled device, called a 'velocipede', appeared in France in the 1790s. However, it had no pedals; riders pushed their feet against the ground. Then, in 1860s, a French blacksmith added pedals to the front wheel, creating the 'boneshaker'. But it was not until the 1880s that the 'safety bicycle' with a chain drive and equal-sized wheels became popular, making cycling much safer and more comfortable for ordinary people.