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 [[File:A replica of a very early bike (15036862042).jpg|thumbnail|left|250px|Figure 1. Replica of an early Draisine.]]__NOTOC__

Bicycles, of some types, appear as early as Leonardo da Vinci’s sketches from 1493. It is not clear if this device was actualized but indicate indicates concepts that became used later on. By the early 1800s, several types of bicycles were made. Initially, different forms existed. However, among the earliest forms of what would become the forerunner to the modern bicycle was the Draisine (Figure 1), a two-wheeled vehicle invented by Karl Drais. This bicycle consisted of front steering and was pushed along by a person's feet, as pedals had not been introduced. The bicycle frame is familiar to us, which made it different from earlier forms and gave it an appearance we would recognize.

After this development, the next big innovation was the use of pedals. This is not clear when this happened, but Kirkpatrick Macmillan could have invented a Scottish blacksmith. The key design modification though was when Pierre Michaux and Pierre Lallemen put the pedals at the front wheel and put a seat on the support beam in 1863. This now made the bicycle much easier to control and power, enabling the rider to stay stationary while directing the bike.<ref>For more on the early 1800s bicycles and how they developed, see: Herlihy, D. V. (2006).<i> Bicycle: the history</i>. New Haven, Conn.; London: Yale University Press. </ref>

[[File:Kangaroo Bicycle Rev.jpg|thumbnail|left|250px|Figure 2. The high wheel bike became popular in the 1870s among cyclists.]]In the 1870s, cycling was focused on delivering faster speeds and was mostly a young man's sport, as it was often seen as dangerous and not suitable for the elderly or women. The so-called high-wheel bikes became popular (Figure 2), which often had a huge front wheel and a small back wheel. Such bikes made it possible to attain very high speeds, but they were notoriously unsafe with many fatal and major accidents. The main problem was these bicycles placed the driver high up, which meant that any bump or uneven surface made the cyclists lose control.

In the 1880s, the so-called safety bicycle was developed, which emphasized emphasizing greater steering control and more even wheel sizes, giving the rider greater control and greater comfort by now giving back wheel chain control. By improving safety and comfort for cycling, these new so-called safety bikes also became the first bikes to be popular among both sexes and for different age groups. At this point, cycling begins to be pervasive among the wider population and at different age groups, including the elderly.

Not surprisinglyIn the early 20th century, as soon as bicycles became more popular, people began stealing them. In parallel with the development Dutch had among the highest per capita use of bikesglobally. By 1970, it was evident that motor deaths became a leading cause of death for young people began , which led to develop bike locks to protect their investment. Starting a re-emergence of the importance of the bicycle in the early 20th century, companies Netherlands as a means for transport. Major campaigns began creating bicycle locks. The earliest bike locks were either larger steel locks that designed to fit between the spokes or bicycle locks attached pressure politicians to chains develop specific infrastructure that were connected the wheels to the framesegregated cyclists from motor traffic.

In This led to one of the 1930s, Optimus, a German company, began manufacturing several different sized steel locks first nationwide master plans for cycling that could be used focused on a large range of bicycles. Companies in the United States were also manufacturing developing nationwide bike locks routes and selling them worldwideprotected areas. Eventually, Optimus switched The led to pressed steel to create strongeralso dedicated bicycle garages, more secure locks. Even during World War IIchanging facilities, companies continued to sell bike locks to militaries fighting during and parking areas throughout the warcountry. Today, bicycle locks are made The transformation and campaigns by hundreds Dutch activists to make cycling part of companies across an integrated transport planning became the world model where other countries have since tried to protect bikesreplicate, where now cycling is often seen as one of the best transport options or at least part of other options for short distances in urban regions and the countryside. [https<ref>For more on the Dutch cycling transformation, see://thebestbikelockNorcliffe, G. B. (2015).com/| Bicycle safety is still important<i>Critical geographies of cycling: history, political economy and you can check out some of the best modern bicycle locks made today in this articleculture</i>.] FortunatelyBurlington, modern locks do a better job at securing bikes than the ones made back in the 1920sVT: Ashgate Publishing Company.</ref>

==Recent TrendsHow did cycling become popular in the United States in the 1980s? ==In the 1980s, what began as mainly an upper-class interest in health and fitness in the United States, began to renew interest in cycling. While the overall number of adult cyclists was low in the United States, weekend recreational use began to come back among some adults. By the 1980s, mountain biking was a new sport that helped put interest back in cycling forms. In the 1990s, renewed interests in bicycle racing also helped Americans take more interest in cycling.

In parts of EuropeAdditionally, there were declines bicycling played an integral role in the use of bicycles after World War 2extraordinarily popular movie E. For the most part, most countries began to focus their transport spending on building roads or rail throughout the second half of the 20th century, and in particular as part of the reconstruction period after the warT. In the Netherlands, in the 1960s it was evident cycling did begin to decline as cars displaced cyclists from roadsdirected by Steven Spielberg. In After the early 20th century, the Dutch had among the highest per capita use of bikes movie played in the world. By 1970theaters, it was evident that motor deaths began to become a leading cause of death supercharged bike sales for young people, which led to a reemergence of the importance of the bicycle in the Netherlands as a means for transportkids and pre-teens. Major campaigns began pressure politicians to develop specific infrastructure Classic kid bikes were replaced by bicycles that segregated cyclists from motor traffic. This led to one of the first nation-wide master plans for cycling that focused on developing nation-wide bike routes and protected areas. The led to also dedicated bicycle garages, changing facilities, and parking areas throughout mimicked the country. The transformation and campaigns Kuwahara Model 3003 ridden by Dutch activists to make cycling part of an integrated transport planning became the model where other countries have since tried to replicate, where now cycling is often seen as one of the best transport options or at least part of other options for short distances Elliot in urban regions and the countrysidemovie.<ref>For more on the Dutch cycling transformation, see: Norcliffe, G. B. (2015). <i>Critical geographies of cycling: history, political economy and culture</i>. Burlington, VT: Ashgate Publishing Company. </ref>

In the 1980s, what began as mainly an upper class interest in health and fitness in the United States, began to renew interest in cycling. While overall the number of adult cyclists were low in the United States, weekend, recreational use began to make a comeback among some adults. By the 1980s, mountain biking was a new sport that helped to help put interest back in forms of cycling. In the 1990s, renewed interests in bicycle racing also helped Americans once again take more interest in cycling. During the first decade of the 2000s, it was high oil prices that made also increased urban cycling become more popular popularity in US citiesthe United States. Dedicated bicycle lanes began to reappear as pressure groups formed in American cities. The rise of oil prices, high traffic, coupled with and increased interests in health, with obesity becoming a major problem, has now led to cycling being of high interest in many countries in Europe, the United States, and East Asia. Almost every major city now has a master plan for integrating cycling with urban transport. The biggest recent trends have been urban communities introducing docking stations and dock-less bicycles as part of their urban transport plans.<ref>For more on the history of cycling in the United States, see: Reid, C. (2017).<i> Bike boom: the unexpected resurgence of cycling</i>. Washington, DC: Island Press. </ref>