雅思听力

🎧 Listening Transcript

Good morning, class. Today we're going to discuss the history of the bicycle. The first modern bicycle, called the 'draisine,' was invented in Germany in 1817 by Karl 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 in France. However, these early bicycles were uncomfortable due to solid rubber tires. In 1888, John Boyd Dunlop, a Scottish veterinarian, invented the pneumatic tire, which greatly improved comfort and made cycling more popular. This innovation led to the 'safety bicycle' design with two equal-sized wheels, which became the standard.