Pop-up lanes boost bicycle traffic and air quality

In the course of the pandemic many European cities seized the opportunity to accelerate the transition towards more sustainable urban mobility. Moving with the times, planners in Berlin created a number of pop-up bike lanes. ...

Will the bicycle help us address pressing social issues?

World Bicycle Day is celebrated on June 3 in support of the idea that bicycles "contribute to cleaner air and less congestion and makes education, health care and other social services more accessible to the most vulnerable ...

E-bikes encounter rocky road to approval despite popularity

Gordon Goodwin and his wife are rediscovering their passion for bicycling in their senior years thanks to new electric-assist bikes. The electric motors provide a gentle kick, making it easier for them to pedal up hilly roads ...

Greater comfort for cyclists

Cycling is healthy, keeps the body supple, exercises the joints and strengthens the back. A company that places great value on comfort is Ergon International GmbH, which manufactures ergonomic bicycle accessories. Handlebar ...

Chemist develops a new catalyst for oxidation and amidation

A RUDN chemist has obtained a compound with a new structural type containing atoms of metals (copper and sodium) in a carcass structure and that is shaped like a bicycle helmet. The compound shows catalytic activity in two ...

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Bicycle

A bicycle, bike, or cycle is a pedal-driven, human-powered vehicle with two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist or a bicyclist.

Bicycles were introduced in the 19th century and now number about one billion worldwide, twice as many as automobiles. They are the principal means of transportation in many regions. They also provide a popular form of recreation, and have been adapted for such uses as children's toys, adult fitness, military and police applications, courier services, and competitive sports.

The basic shape and configuration of a typical bicycle has changed little since the first chain-driven model was developed around 1885. Many details have been improved, especially since the advent of modern materials and computer-aided design. These have allowed for a proliferation of specialized designs for particular types of cycling.

The invention of the bicycle has had an enormous impact on society, both in terms of culture and of advancing modern industrial usage. Several components that eventually played a key role in the development of the automobile were originally invented for the bicycle - e.g., ball bearings, pneumatic tires, chain-driven sprockets, spoke-tensioned wheels, etc.

This text uses material from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA