雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning, everyone. Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. As you know, the bicycle has evolved significantly since its invention. The first two-wheeled vehicle, called the draisine, was invented in 1817 by Karl von Drais. It had no pedals; riders pushed their feet against the ground to move. Later, in the 1860s, pedals were added to the front wheel, creating the velocipede. However, these early models were uncomfortable because of their wooden frames and metal wheels. It wasn't until the 1880s that the safety bicycle, with two equal-sized wheels and a chain drive, became popular, making cycling safer and more accessible to the general public.