Today's lecture is about the history of the bicycle. Although early prototypes appeared in the 19th century, the modern safety bicycle, with two equal-sized wheels and a chain drive, was developed in the 1880s. This design made cycling much safer and more accessible, especially for women, who began using bicycles as a means of independent transport. Interestingly, the rise of the bicycle also influenced the development of the automobile, as many early car manufacturers, including Henry Ford, started as bicycle mechanics. However, the lecture emphasizes that the bicycle's impact on urban planning was even more profound, as it led to the creation of dedicated cycling lanes and traffic regulations.