雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

In today's lecture, we'll discuss the history of the bicycle. The first pedal-driven bicycle was invented in the 1860s by a French blacksmith named Pierre Michaux. However, it was not until the 1880s that the 'safety bicycle' with two equal-sized wheels became popular, thanks to John Kemp Starley. This design allowed riders to reach the ground with their feet, making it much safer. By the early 20th century, bicycles had become a common mode of transport in European cities. Interestingly, the invention of the pneumatic tire by John Dunlop in 1888 greatly improved comfort and speed, leading to a boom in cycling.