What is a Bicycle?

A bicycle is a machine with two wheels. You sit on it and move your legs to make it go. Bicycles are a good way to move from one place to another. They do not need gas. They do not make dirty air. You just need your own body to make them work.

Today, millions of people around the world use bicycles every day. But bicycles are not very old. The first bicycle was made about 200 years ago.

The First Bicycles

The first bicycle was made in Germany in 1817. A man named Karl Drais made it. His bicycle was very different from bicycles today. It had two wheels but no pedals. You sat on it and pushed your feet on the ground. You pushed again and again to go forward. It was like walking, but faster.

Bicycles with Pedals

In the 1860s, people in France made a new kind of bicycle. This bicycle had pedals. You could put your feet on the pedals and push them around. This made the bicycle move. This was much better! Now you could go faster, and it was easier. More people wanted to buy these bicycles.

But there was still a problem. These bicycles were not very comfortable. The wheels were made of wood or metal. When you went over rocks or holes in the road, you could feel every bump.

The Penny Farthing

In the 1870s, people made a very strange bicycle. It had one very big wheel in the front and one very small wheel in the back.

Why did people make the front wheel so big? Because the pedals were on the front wheel. When the wheel was bigger, you could go much faster.

But this bicycle was not safe. The seat was very high. If you fell off, you could hurt yourself badly. Only strong young men usually rode these bicycles.

The Safety Bicycle

In the 1880s, people made a bicycle that was much safer. Both wheels were the same size. The seat was lower. There was a chain connecting the pedals to the back wheel.

This bicycle was called the “safety bicycle.” It was much easier to ride. Women could ride it. Old people could ride it. Children could ride it. Almost anyone could learn.

This is the kind of bicycle we still use today! The basic idea has not changed for over 100 years.

Better and Better

After the safety bicycle, people kept making bicycles better. They added air to the inside of the wheels. This made the ride much more comfortable. They made bicycles lighter. Now some bicycles are very light — you can pick them up easily with one hand. They added gears. Gears help you go up hills more easily. They added better brakes. Now you can stop quickly and safely.

Bicycles Around the World

Different countries use bicycles in different ways. In the Netherlands, almost everyone rides a bicycle. Many people ride their bicycles to work or to school every day. In China, millions of people use bicycles. In big cities, you can see hundreds of bicycles on the streets. In some African countries, people use bicycles to carry things to the market.

Why Bicycles Are Good

Bicycles are good for many reasons. They are good for your body. When you ride a bicycle, your heart works and your legs get strong. They are good for the air. Bicycles do not make smoke or dirty air as cars do. They don’t cost much. A bicycle costs much less than a car. You do not need to buy gas. They are good for short trips in a city with lots of traffic.

Bicycles Today

Today, there are more than one billion bicycles in the world! Some new bicycles have small motors to help you ride up hills. Some have lights and computers. Some cities let you rent a bicycle for a short time. You can pick up a bicycle at one place and leave it at another place when you are done. Bicycles have come a long way since 1817. And they will keep getting better in the years to come.