雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning, everyone. Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle, focusing on its social impact in the late 19th century. The bicycle, particularly the 'safety bicycle' introduced in the 1880s, transformed personal mobility. Unlike the earlier penny-farthing, which was dangerous and difficult to ride, the safety bicycle had two equal-sized wheels and a chain drive. This design made it much more stable and accessible. As a result, cycling became popular among middle-class women, who saw it as a means of independence. However, some doctors warned that cycling could cause a condition called 'bicycle face', though this was later dismissed as a myth. By the 1890s, bicycles were also used for leisure and even for postal delivery in rural areas.