Good morning, everyone. Today, I'd like to talk about the history of the bicycle. While many people think the bicycle was invented in the 19th century, its earliest form appeared in 1817, when a German inventor created a wooden, two-wheeled machine called the 'running machine'. However, it wasn't until the 1880s that the modern bicycle, with a chain and pedals, became popular. Interestingly, the first bicycles were not used for leisure but for transportation, especially by workers who needed to travel to factories quickly. By the early 20th century, bicycles had become a symbol of freedom, especially for women, who used them to gain greater mobility.
❓ What was the primary use of the earliest bicycles?