World Bicycle Day is a holiday that’s observed annually on the 3rd of June. It’s a day that celebrates an invention that has been around for over 205 years and continues to be seen as a very important mode of personal transportation. Bicycles not only allow people to get from one point to another relatively easily, but they also do so while protecting the environment and giving the person riding them a chance at a little bit of exercise.

Bikes also give people a personal sense of freedom that they don’t have with cars. All of these are good reasons why the common bicycle should be celebrated on this holiday.

The History of World Bicycle Day

Although there have been various “bicycle-like” inventions prior to the 18th century, most historians credit the invention of the first real bicycle to German inventor Karl von Drais. The machine he invented was known as the “Swiftwalker” and it first hit the road in 1817.

This machine didn’t have any pedals and its frame was just a wooden beam, but it’s still considered to be the first bicycle because it had two wooden wheels with iron rims and tires that were covered in leather. Of course, when it was first released, it didn’t receive as much praise as you might think.

In fact, 10 years after it hit the streets, the Swiftwalker was banned from sidewalks and public places. During the mid-19th century, velocipedes would hit the scene. These bikes featured two wooden tires, handlebars for steering, a wooden frame, and pedals on the axle of the front wheel that allowed the rider to propel themselves forward.

Unfortunately, no one really knows who invented the first velocipede, but one thing is for sure: These bikes were very tough to ride because they didn’t absorb the shocks of the road that modern bikes would eventually do. In the late 1800s, a new breed of bikes hit the scene.

These were known as “safety bicycles” and they featured steel tubing instead of cast iron or wooden frames. These bikes were extremely heavy, but over time, bicycle manufacturers began to use lighter materials. And this is how the bike evolved into the modern bicycle that we know and love today.

As for the holiday World Bicycle Day, this day was actually created in April 2018 by the United Nations General Assembly. The holiday was created to recognize these unique inventions that have been around for over 200 years and are a safe, reliable, and environmentally sound way for people to get from one place to another.

Observing World Bicycle Day

When was the last time you rode a bicycle? If you’re like most adults, the answer to that question isn’t that easy. Some people haven’t been on a bicycle since they were children, and others have put their bikes away in storage in favor of other forms of transportation.

Fortunately, this holiday reminds all of us of the importance of bicycles and gives people a chance to get back up on their bikes and take them out for a spin. It’s also a good day to keep in mind that riding a bicycle isn’t just fun but is also a good way to get some exercise.

Bikes are also good for the environment as they don’t require fossil fuels to operate. All good reasons to get back up on the proverbial horse and give bike riding another chance. But before you do so, make sure to use the hashtag #WorldBicycleDay to spread the word about this holiday far and wide.