The Bicycle Revolution: From Wooden Wheels to Global Empowerment, 1810s–Present The bicycle’s evolution from Karl von Drais’s 1817 Laufmaschine to the 1885 safety bicycle transformed it into a symbol of mobility and freedom. Innovations like pedals, chain drives, and pneumatic tires made cycling accessible, peaking in the 1890s with 1.2 million U.S. bicycles produced annually. It revolutionized society, empowering women by enabling independent travel and rational dress, as Susan B. Anthony noted: “The bicycle has done more to emancipate women than anything else.” In India and China, bicycles empowered marginalized groups, with production peaking at 15 million (India, 1990) and 43 million (China, 1990), though motorization later reduced urban use. In developing nations, bicycles remain vital for rural mobility, boosting incomes by up to 35%. Today’s $64.62 billion market, driven by e-bikes and sustainability, projects growth to $100 billion by 2035, promising inclusive, eco-fr...