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What Do You Know About Bicycles?

The word «bicycle» first appeared in France in 1860. Pierre Michaux, the inventor of the term, wanted to pick the word so that it would identify a two-wheeled vehicle with a simple mechanical drive. However, the bike prototype was designed and patented back in 1818 by German Baron Karl von Drais. This mechanism consisted of a wooden frame, metal wheels, and rudder, but without pedals. In order for this bicycle to move, its owner had to be pushed all the time.

Riding the first bikes on the city streets was forbidden. The wheels were quiet and therefore dangerous to pedestrians and carriage horses. The exception was some small streets. What is more, initially, cycling was considered only as a separate sport or leisure activity.

The Vienna City Council was sceptical of bicycles. Therefore, each owner of a two-wheeler had to take the Wiener bicycle rider exam and get a bicycle licence. The licence number was indicated on the vehicle licence plate. Also, drivers had to carry a lantern and a whistle to be visible on the road. Streets that allowed cyclists to ride along were identified. The requirements contained separate paragraphs for overtaking horses with carriages and attention to pedestrians. It was forbidden to go in groups. The minimum distance between cyclists was twenty meters.

In 10 years the conditions for cyclists softened. From 1897, it was possible to ride all the streets, and the licence plates were cancelled. Since 1897, the bicycle has been recognized as a common vehicle.

The bicycle has also become an element of women's emancipation. Since the 1890s, two-wheelers have increasingly appealed to young ladies. In 1894, they organized the first women's cycle club «Erste Wiener Damen Bicycle Club». Women could get rid of their corsets for cycling, as well as heel-length dresses. It was time to have more comfortable clothes. As a result, men started wearing cloth hats and women got dressed in loose skirts.

In 1983, the local government of Vienna developed the concept of cycle paths. By 1986, the city already had 168 km of them, and by 1990 - 500 bicycle stops. The use of two-wheelers increased threefold from 1986 to 1991. Today, cycling is 5% of all traffic. At the end of 2015, the Austrian capital had 1,298 km of cycle roads, 39,000 public bicycle stops, and more than 120 bicycle lease points.

How could the first bicycle move?

Read the text and choose the correct answer.

What Do You Know About Bicycles?

The word «bicycle» first appeared in France in 1860. Pierre Michaux, the inventor of the term, wanted to pick the word so that it would identify a two-wheeled vehicle with a simple mechanical drive. However, the bike prototype was designed and patented back in 1818 by German Baron Karl von Drais. This mechanism consisted of a wooden frame, metal wheels, and rudder, but without pedals. In order for this bicycle to move, its owner had to be pushed all the time.

Riding the first bikes on the city streets was forbidden. The wheels were quiet and therefore dangerous to pedestrians and carriage horses. The exception was some small streets. What is more, initially, cycling was considered only as a separate sport or leisure activity.

The Vienna City Council was sceptical of bicycles. Therefore, each owner of a two-wheeler had to take the Wiener bicycle rider exam and get a bicycle licence. The licence number was indicated on the vehicle licence plate. Also, drivers had to carry a lantern and a whistle to be visible on the road. Streets that allowed cyclists to ride along were identified. The requirements contained separate paragraphs for overtaking horses with carriages and attention to pedestrians. It was forbidden to go in groups. The minimum distance between cyclists was twenty meters.

In 10 years the conditions for cyclists softened. From 1897, it was possible to ride all the streets, and the licence plates were cancelled. Since 1897, the bicycle has been recognized as a common vehicle.

The bicycle has also become an element of women's emancipation. Since the 1890s, two-wheelers have increasingly appealed to young ladies. In 1894, they organized the first women's cycle club «Erste Wiener Damen Bicycle Club». Women could get rid of their corsets for cycling, as well as heel-length dresses. It was time to have more comfortable clothes. As a result, men started wearing cloth hats and women got dressed in loose skirts.

In 1983, the local government of Vienna developed the concept of cycle paths. By 1986, the city already had 168 km of them, and by 1990 - 500 bicycle stops. The use of two-wheelers increased threefold from 1986 to 1991. Today, cycling is 5% of all traffic. At the end of 2015, the Austrian capital had 1,298 km of cycle roads, 39,000 public bicycle stops, and more than 120 bicycle lease points.

Why was riding a bicycle banned?

Read the text and choose the correct answer.

What Do You Know About Bicycles?

The word «bicycle» first appeared in France in 1860. Pierre Michaux, the inventor of the term, wanted to pick the word so that it would identify a two-wheeled vehicle with a simple mechanical drive. However, the bike prototype was designed and patented back in 1818 by German Baron Karl von Drais. This mechanism consisted of a wooden frame, metal wheels, and rudder, but without pedals. In order for this bicycle to move, its owner had to be pushed all the time.

Riding the first bikes on the city streets was forbidden. The wheels were quiet and therefore dangerous to pedestrians and carriage horses. The exception was some small streets. What is more, initially, cycling was considered only as a separate sport or leisure activity.

The Vienna City Council was sceptical of bicycles. Therefore, each owner of a two-wheeler had to take the Wiener bicycle rider exam and get a bicycle licence. The licence number was indicated on the vehicle licence plate. Also, drivers had to carry a lantern and a whistle to be visible on the road. Streets that allowed cyclists to ride along were identified. The requirements contained separate paragraphs for overtaking horses with carriages and attention to pedestrians. It was forbidden to go in groups. The minimum distance between cyclists was twenty meters.

In 10 years the conditions for cyclists softened. From 1897, it was possible to ride all the streets, and the licence plates were cancelled. Since 1897, the bicycle has been recognized as a common vehicle.

The bicycle has also become an element of women's emancipation. Since the 1890s, two-wheelers have increasingly appealed to young ladies. In 1894, they organized the first women's cycle club «Erste Wiener Damen Bicycle Club». Women could get rid of their corsets for cycling, as well as heel-length dresses. It was time to have more comfortable clothes. As a result, men started wearing cloth hats and women got dressed in loose skirts.

In 1983, the local government of Vienna developed the concept of cycle paths. By 1986, the city already had 168 km of them, and by 1990 - 500 bicycle stops. The use of two-wheelers increased threefold from 1986 to 1991. Today, cycling is 5% of all traffic. At the end of 2015, the Austrian capital had 1,298 km of cycle roads, 39,000 public bicycle stops, and more than 120 bicycle lease points.

To be allowed to use a bicycle the owner should have done everything EXCEPT: