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History of the Bicycle

by Neighborhood-Kids.com5/14/2008 1:52:37 PM

Learning to ride a bike is time-honored tradition of childhood. Riding one’s bike up and down the block can be the most liberating feeling in the world when you’re six years old. The bicycle is so commonplace these days—used for transportation, exercise, and recreation—that it’s hard to imagine what life would be like without it. Let’s take a look at the interesting history of the bicycle!

Two men riding ordinary bicycles, or "penny-farthings," in Los Angeles, CA in 1886.

The bicycle, in its earliest incarnation during the early 19th century, was called the Draisienne after its inventor, Baron Karl von Drais. This “walking machine” had two wheels, a seat which the rider straddled, and no pedals, so the rider was moved by pushing your feet against the ground in a gliding motion. It was made out of wood and only useful for swift movement on well-maintained garden paths.

Pedals were added two the two-wheeled riding machine in the 1860s. There is some dispute as to whom “invented” this first bicycle, but it was likely a French metalworker in Paris; bicycle historians disagree over whether Ernest Michaux or Pierre Lallement (who was employed by Michaux for a time) deserves the credit for the velocipede. This device enjoyed a brief popularity in France and the United States, but ultimately the rough ride on poor roads (the machine was nicknamed the “bone-shaker”) inspired inventors to develop other riding machines.

The next big hit on the bike scene was the high wheel bicycle in 1870, which was made entirely of metal and used solid rubber tires for a smoother ride. Bike makers realized that by making the front tire larger, one could travel farther with one rotation of the pedals. The bike was expensive and the high elevation of the rider made falling likely, and dangerous, so it was most commonly ridden by “sporting young men of means.”

During the last two decades of the 19th century, inventors developed the safety bicycle, with pneumatic tires of equal size and a chain drive to the rear wheel, both of which added speed and comfort to the ride. Its invention marked the so-called “Golden Age” of the bicycle, as it became a prime form of transportation and recreation in Europe and the United States. It could be afforded by the elites and middle classes, and was even lauded to have promoted women’s suffrage and independence by Susan B. Anthony.

Kulshan Cycles lets Bellinghamers know that it's National Bike Month.

Bike popularity dropped off in the United States at the turn of the century, when automobiles became the preferred means of transportation. Following World War I, department stores became manufacturing bikes for children which emphasized design features of motorcycles and cars. These models weighed up to 65 lbs., not exactly making for easy maneuverability by children; by the 1960s, children bikes became simpler and lighter.

Today, bicycles are still used around the world for work, leisure, exercise, and transportation. But the history of the bicycle doesn’t end here; its features are constantly being redeveloped for safety and efficiency to fit a rider’s needs and lifestyle.

Since 1957, the League of American Bicyclists has recognized May as National Bike Month to promote bicycling for personal, community and environmental health and fun. The biggest event during this month of bike-awareness is Bike to Work and School Day, which is on May 16th this year, when all are encouraged to bike. If you stop by an EverybodyBIKE Celebration Station on your ride, you can get special rewards for joining in this great community event.

To learn more about bicycles, check out History Timeline of the Bicycle and History of the Bicycle online, or look for The Noblest Invention: An Illustrated History of the Bicycle at the library or a local bookstore.