雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. Many people assume the bicycle was invented in the 19th century, but its origins go further back. The first known two-wheeled vehicle, called a draisine, appeared in 1817 in Germany. However, it had no pedals; riders pushed their feet against the ground. The real breakthrough came in the 1860s when pedals were added to the front wheel, creating the 'boneshaker'. Later, the high-wheel bicycle became popular, but it was dangerous due to its large front wheel. Finally, in 1885, the safety bicycle with a chain drive and equal-sized wheels was introduced, making cycling much safer and more accessible to the general public.