雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. Although many people credit the invention to the 19th century, early prototypes appeared in the late 18th century. The first two-wheeled vehicle, called the 'velocipede', was introduced in 1817 by a German inventor. It had no pedals; riders pushed their feet against the ground. Later, in the 1860s, pedals were added to the front wheel, creating the 'boneshaker'. However, it wasn't until the 1880s that the modern chain-driven bicycle with two equal-sized wheels was developed in England. This design, known as the 'safety bicycle', made cycling much safer and more popular, leading to a cycling boom in the 1890s.