雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning. Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. Now, many people think the bicycle was invented in the 19th century, but in fact, the first two-wheeled vehicle, called a 'velocipede', appeared in the early 1800s. However, it had no pedals and was pushed along by the feet. The real breakthrough came in the 1860s when pedals were added to the front wheel. This design, known as the 'boneshaker', was uncomfortable but popular. Later, in the 1880s, the 'safety bicycle' with a chain drive and two equal-sized wheels was introduced, making cycling much safer and more accessible to the general public.