This is the predecessor invention of the bicycle

The two-wheeled carriage created by German inventor Karl von Drais caused a stir in many European countries in the early 19th century .

In April 1815, Mount Tambora on Sumbawa Island in present-day Indonesia erupted violently, unprecedented in history. A huge amount of debris, weighing an estimated 10 billion tons, shot into the atmosphere. These pieces of rock and ash rose into the stratosphere and spread, covering the sky and blocking sunlight for months. The eruption also released large amounts of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere, leading to the formation of sulfate aerosols, causing the Earth's surface temperature to cool significantly. Cold temperatures and changing weather patterns cause crop failures and famine in many parts of the world.

Reproduction of Karl von Drais's two-wheeled carriage. (Photo: Amusing Planet).

Scarce resources have a profound impact on daily life, leaving many people unable to support traditional transportation animals such as horses and mules. In that difficult situation, Karl von Drais , a young German inventor, found the motivation to create a new form of transportation that did not depend on horse power. This led to the birth of the world's first two-wheeled vehicle.

The Laufmaschine carriage designed by Von Drais includes two wheels placed in a straight line like today's bicycles and motorbikes. The carriage is made of wood, with a horizontal bar connecting two wooden wheels with spokes. A small leather seat is placed in the middle of the crossbar, providing seating for the driver. Vertical axis with a series of control rods connected to the front wheel used for steering. The vehicle's propulsion depends entirely on the driver's strength. The rider will sit on a leather seat, press their feet into the ground and move back and forth to gain momentum. Each pedal stroke will push the carriage further than a person walking.

On June 12, 1817, Von Drais set out from Mannheim along the most beautiful roads to Baden on the Laufmaschine carriage. Taking the southwest route, he traveled nearly 7km before arriving at an inn along the way called Schwetzinger Relaishaus. Although it is unclear whether Von Drais stopped at the inn to rest, historical documents confirm that his round trip took just over an hour, less than half the time it would take to walk the same route from Mannheim went to the inn and returned.

Six months later, Von Drais applied for a patent in France and introduced the term Vélocipède to describe his invention. The patent application was successful and the vehicle quickly attracted the attention of French society. Von Drais introduced the pioneering vehicle in several European capitals, attracting large audiences with its new design and functionality, and bringing in many orders for human-powered vehicles. Because Von Drais makes each part in-house, vehicle delivery time is very long. So the initial craze surrounding the carriage faded in Europe later that year. However, seeing increased demand, many manufacturers in France and England sought to cash in on the popularity of the Vélocipède by releasing their own versions. Of these, the version made by London chair maker Denis Johnson is said to be the most useful.

Denis Johnson introduced a number of improvements to the two-wheeled vehicle he marketed in London. Most notable was the crossbar on Johnson's carriage that tilted down in the middle, allowing the use of larger wheels, thereby improving ride quality. In addition, the steering mechanism made from iron provides the operator with greater control. At the same time, integrating iron belts on the outer edges of the wheels also significantly increases their durability. Johnson's version quickly gained popularity in early 1819.

However, this trend of traveling by carriage quickly encountered many obstacles such as rough road surfaces and frequent rickshaws passing by, posing challenges in maintaining balance. Some reckless people even drive on the sidewalk, endangering pedestrians. Realizing the danger from the rising trend, authorities in Germany, the UK, the US and even Calcutta restrict places to ride bicycles or outright ban them. By the end of 1819, the craze for carriages had almost completely subsided. Von Drais went on to create many other inventions such as the first typewriter.