Today we're going to 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. By the 1880s, the 'safety bicycle' with a chain drive and two equal-sized wheels became popular, making cycling safer and more accessible. Interestingly, this design led to a significant social change: it gave women greater freedom to travel independently, as they could ride without the restrictive clothing of the era. The bicycle's popularity peaked in the 1890s, before the rise of the automobile.