Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. While many people assume the bicycle was invented in the 19th century, its earliest form appeared much earlier. The first known two-wheeled vehicle was created in 1817 by a German inventor, Karl von Drais. It was called a 'running machine' because riders pushed their feet against the ground. However, it wasn't until the 1860s that pedals were added, making the bicycle more practical. Interestingly, the safety bicycle, which had two equal-sized wheels, was introduced in the 1880s and became hugely popular, as it was much safer than the earlier high-wheel design.