雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

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 earliest form, called the 'celerifere', appeared in France in the 1790s. However, it had no pedals or steering. Then, in 1817, a German inventor added a steering mechanism, but riders still had to push their feet along the ground. The first pedal-driven bicycle was developed in Scotland in 1839, but it was heavy and uncomfortable. It wasn't until 1885 that the modern 'safety bicycle' with equal-sized wheels and a chain drive became popular, making cycling accessible to a wider public.