雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning, everyone. Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. The first two-wheeled vehicle was invented in 1817 by a German baron, Karl von Drais. It was called the 'running machine' because riders pushed themselves along with their feet. However, it wasn't until the 1860s that pedals were added, and the modern bicycle began to take shape. Interestingly, the introduction of the safety bicycle in the 1880s, with equal-sized wheels and a chain drive, made cycling much safer and more popular, especially among women. This design essentially remains the standard today.