雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning, everyone. Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. The first bicycle, invented in the early 19th century, had no pedals; riders pushed their feet against the ground to move. Later, in the 1860s, pedals were added to the front wheel, but this design was unstable. It wasn't until the 1880s that the 'safety bicycle' with a chain drive and two equal-sized wheels became popular. Interestingly, the safety bicycle greatly increased women's mobility, as it allowed them to ride without wearing restrictive clothing. By the early 20th century, bicycles had become a common means of transport, especially for workers commuting to factories.