More and more people choose the bicycle as their means of transport, especially now that the idea of mobility that we had to date is beginning to change. This transformation, motivated in large part by the alliance between mobility and the environment with the aim of making our cities cleaner and more sustainable places , means that they have ceased to be understood as a toy for children or as a vehicle to carry out sports activities, but are seen as another means of transport for our day to day. Therefore, in the same way that its use has varied over time, its design has also evolved, becoming a much more technological element than the first bicycle in history.
First bicycles
Precisely, the bicycle of the German Karl von Drais is considered to be the pioneer. It was in 1817 when the inventor built what became known as Draisine or velocipede. The aim was to offer a means of transport, built in wood, that was cheaper and easier to maintain than horses. Little by little, the invention was gaining notoriety, until the Scotsman Kirkpatrick MacMillan invented the pedal bicycle some twenty years later, in 1839. Although it was Thomas McCall who began to manufacture his model in 1869.
From then on, the demand for bicycles began to increase , as they were perfect for traveling long journeys quickly. For this reason, manufacturers began to innovate by creating different variants, such as the considerable increase in the size of the front wheel that they carried out in 1880. Although this type of bicycle did not last long on the market, since ten years later it appeared the “safety bike” with the two wheels of the same size. This late 19th century design became the structure of today’s bicycle. It was also during those years that the first models of specific bicycles for women were built, known as the “freedom machine”, as women who rode bicycles had the opportunity to enjoy physical freedom, moving from one place to another.
Continuous improvement
Starting in the 20th century, the growth of the car as a means of transport left the bicycle in the background, although they never completely disappeared. During the 60s and 70s there were times of hope and freedom of expression in areas such as fashion, art and music. These years of societal transformation also left a lasting impression on the evolution of the bicycle, which has seen one of the biggest peaks in popularity since its invention.
Already at the end of the 20th century, society began to realize the importance of keeping fit , so the sales of bicycles increased considerably. In addition, variants such as, for example, the mountain bike appeared. In recent years, environmental awareness has also influenced this growth, as more and more people turn to cycling as an ecological, cheap and even fun way to get around the city.
