雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

In today's lecture, we'll discuss the history of the bicycle. The first bicycle, invented in the early 19th century, had no pedals and was pushed along by the rider's feet. Later, in the 1860s, pedals were added to the front wheel, but this design was unstable and difficult to ride. It wasn't until the 1880s that the 'safety bicycle' with two equal-sized wheels and a chain drive became popular. This design was much safer and faster, leading to a bicycle boom in the 1890s. Interestingly, the safety bicycle also played a key role in women's liberation, as it gave women greater mobility and freedom.