雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning, everyone. Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. Now, many people think the bicycle was invented in the 19th century, but its origins actually go back further. The first known two-wheeled vehicle, called a 'velocipede', appeared in France in the 1790s. However, it had no pedals; riders pushed their feet against the ground. The real breakthrough came in 1860s when pedals were attached to the front wheel. But this design was dangerous because it was easy to tip over. It wasn't until the 1880s that the 'safety bicycle' with a chain drive and two equal-sized wheels became popular, making cycling much safer and more accessible to the public.