雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. While many people assume the bicycle was invented in the 19th century, its origins actually go back further. The first two-wheeled, pedal-less device, called a draisine, appeared in 1817 in Germany. It was propelled by pushing feet against the ground. Later, in the 1860s, French inventors added pedals to the front wheel, creating the velocipede. However, this design was uncomfortable due to its rigid frame and wooden wheels. It wasn't until the 1880s that the modern safety bicycle, with a chain drive and equal-sized wheels, became popular, making cycling accessible to the general public.