A Freedom Machine: A history of Bicycles and Bicycling Commute on a Bicycle Rent a Bicycle Philadelphia has many new To commute (verb) (commuted, commuting) to travel to work bikes. The bikes are blue. or school; a trip to work or school every day The blue bikes are for a bike Commute (noun) a trip from home to work or school share program. You can Commuter (noun) a person who travels to work or school rent a blue bike. To ride (verb) (rode, riding) to sit on and make it move o Rider (noun) person on the bike o To bike (verb) (biked, biking, bicycled, bicycling) Bicycle / Bike (noun - thing) Bicyclist / Bicycler / Cyclist / Cycler (noun - person) Do you ride a bicycle? Do you know someone who rides a bicycle? Many Philadelphians, or people in Philadelphia, commute or travel on their bike to work or school. Some Philadelphia streets have bike lanes. Bike lanes are to guide bike riders. They are built for bikes. No cars in a bike lane 1: Sign Up and Pay 2 : Rent a bike 3: Go for a ride 4: Return the bike No bikes 1
Parts of a bicycle Chronology or Timeline of the Bicycle Bicycle = two wheels Bi = two cycle = wheel or circle The first bicycle Hobby Horse, 1820s The Holly Horse was made of wood. It has a saddle or seat. It had two wheels. The wheels had spokes. It had no pedals. It had no chain. Today s bicycle is made of metal. It has a saddle or seat. It has two wheels. The wheels have spokes. It has two pedals. It has a chain. It has two rubber tires. It has a handlebar. Today s bicycle 2
Two Bicycles: The Ordinary and The Safety In the 1870s, bicycles became popular. The new bicycles were called The Ordinary. It was light, fast and dangerous. It had one big wheel and one small wheel. Many people, or bike riders, fell off the bike. When the bike rider fell off the bike, it was called a header. The bike rider fell on his or her head. They had a headache! Bike riders needed a safe bike. In the 1890s, The Safety was the new bicycle. It had two small wheels of equal size. It had better brakes. It had rubber wheels. The wheels were filled with air. People rode a bike to work and for recreation or fun. In 1889, in one year 200,000 (two hundred thousand) bicycles were produced or made. By 1899, in one year 1,000,000 (one million) bicycles were produced or made. The bicycle: transportation, sport and play By 1900, riding a bike was the most popular sport in the United States. Many men rode a bicycle. Bike riding was for transportation, sport and play. Some men rode a bicycle to go to work. Some men rode a bicycle in very long bicycle races. Some men rode a bicycle for fun. Women also rode bicycles. In the 1890s, more than 1,000,000 (one million) women owned a bicycle. The bicycle gave women freedom or independence. Women could travel alone. Women liked to exercise. Look at the pictures of women on a bicycle. How did women s clothes change? Why? 1 2 3 4 3
Women and bicycles: Should women ride a bicycle? Women and bicycles: Cartoons Some people believed it was wrong for a woman to ride a bicycle. Why? Look at the cartoons. What do you see? What are the arguments for women to NOT ride a bike? 1 Life Magazine, 1896 3 2 4 4
Women and bicycles: Advertisements Other people believed women should ride a bicycle. Women could go to work on a bicycle. Women could exercise on a bicycle. In 1896, the first women s six-day bike race started in New York City. Women could be independent and strong. Look at the advertisement. What do you see? What are the arguments for women to ride a bike? Women and bicycles: Poems Good Roads Magazine (1895; Boston, Massachusetts) A Cyclet By C.F. Haynes, M.D. (Medical Doctor) This is a poem on women and bicycles. What are the reasons or arguments for women riding a bike? (The bike is) built like a watch. The time has come when ladies feel They re out of style without a wheel (bicycle). At first it seems a little odd (strange) But now the wheel s quite a la mode. (in style or in fashion) Since Mrs. Crank (angry) no longer meddles ( minds other people s business ) We see their feet upon the pedals. And hear them sing the cycle song: I come, I come, and you have called me along. As out they go to take a whirl (ride) The matron (older, married woman) and the blushing girl, (shy girl) For change of air and change of scene (different place), From barren (empty) walls to fields of green (grass) Physicians (doctors) generally decide To recommend (it is good) the cycle ride, And every lady now should feel It quite the thing to own a wheel (bicycle) 5
Women and bicycles: Songs People sang songs about riding bikes. The songs were popular. Why are the man and woman riding a bike? Is the bike ride for fun, sport or work? How do you know? (The sheet music or song was printed in Philadelphia.) The Bicycle Race Ella Herman, 1895 The Bicycle girls, they had a great race They dressed in blue and grey bloomer suits. Oh my! Where they a sight! The end of the race, those jolly bicycle girls got mixed. (fell down.) So, they never could tell which girl won the race the blue and grey bloomer girls. The New Woman: Annie Cohen Londonderry A woman who became famous for riding a bike was Annie Londonderry. She was called a New Woman. Why were women bike riders called the new woman? What was new? Annie Cohen Kopchovsky Londonderry Annie Londonderry was a Annie changed her name Jewish immigrant from to Londonderry - a water Latvia, Europe. She was born company. Annie advertised in 1870. When she was a Londonderry water. She put child, her family moved to advertisements on her clothes Boston, Massachusetts. When and bicycle. She earned she was 18, she married Max money. Kopchovsky. She had three Annie road a bicycle from children. New York to Chicago. She In 1894, two wealthy sailed on a boat to France. She Boston businessmen said no road a bicycle through France. woman could ride a bicycle She sailed to Egypt. She road around the world. Annie a bicycle to China. She sailed believed she could ride a to California and road a bike bicycle. The men were to Texas and Colorado. She wrong. Annie left New York returned to Boston on on June 24, 1894 on a trip September 24, 1895. She won around the world. $10,000. 6
The New Woman: Tillie Anderson The New Woman: Kittie Knox Tillie The Terrible Swede Anderson Tillie Anderson was an immigrant from Sweden, Europe. Tillie and her brother moved to Chicago, Illinois in 1891. She was 16 years old. Tillie worked as a seamstress. She sewed clothes. On her way to work, Tillie saw men and women ride bicycles. Tillie wanted to ride a bike. She could sew and ride a bike. Tillie was a hard working athlete. She rode her bicycle every day. She became one of the fastest women bicycle riders. In 1896, she rode a bicycle for 100-miles and won. She won an 18-hour bike race. She won prize money and a new name Tillie the Terrible Swede. When she was 20 years old, she was the best woman bicycle rider or cyclist in the world. She won 123 out of 130 bike races. Tillie made special clothes for women bike riders. Some newspapers mocked or made fun of women cyclists. They made fun of their muscles. They made fun of their faces. They made fun of their clothes. Tillie did not stop. Then the law changed. In 1902, women were banned or not allowed to ride in bicycle races. Some men believed bicycle racing was not safe or healthy for women. Tillie had to stop bicycle racing. She was sad but joined the League of American Wheelmen. Tillie knew bike riding was healthy. She rode her bike until she died in 1965. Katherine Kittie Knox Kittie Knox was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1874. Kittie was African American. She was also a seamstress; she designed or sewed her bike riding clothes. She rode a man s bike in many 100-mile races. She was one of the best bike racers in the U.S. She rode faster than many men. In 1893, Kittie joined the Riverside Cycling Club, a Boston African American cycling group. The cycling group was a member of the League of American Wheelmen, the U.S. bicycle group. In 1894, the League of American Wheelmen passed a law no African American members. Only white people could be members. Kittie did not stop. Kittie went to the 1895 League of American Wheelmen s national meeting. Kittie won a contest for the best woman s bike riding outfit or clothes. Kittie s friends from Boston supported her. Some members of the League of American Wheelmen tried to stop Kittie. They did not want any African American members. Kittie rode a bike. She was a leader in the race. Kittie was a leader for women and African Americans. The, Kittie was sick. She died in 1900. She was only 26 years old. 7
The Black Cyclone: Major Taylor When Marshall was 13, the Southards moved. Marshall s mother did not want him to move. She would miss Marhsall. He stayed with his family. He had to find a job. The Southards gave Marshall a bike. He delivered newspapers. He learned bike tricks or stunts. He soon had a job at a bicycle shop. Marshall dressed in a military uniform or clothes. He did bike tricks or stunts in front of the store. People called him Major because of his clothes. In 1878,Marshall Major Taylor was born in Indiana. His grandfather was enslaved, or a slave, in Kentucky. His father was a Union or Northern soldier in the U.S. Civil War. When Marshall was born, his father worked for a wealthy white family, the Southards. When Marshall was 8, he moved into the Southards home. Marshall was a good friend with their son, Dan. Marshall and Dan played and learned together. They had private tutors or teachers. The Black Cyclone: Major Taylor In 1892, Marshall won his first bike race. Three years later, in 1895, he moved with his boss and coach to Worcester, Massachusetts. When Marshall was 20 years old, he had seven world bike racing records. In 1899, he won the world championship in the one-mile bike race. He was the first African American sports superstar. He earned more money than any other athlete. Marshall was a champion but he also was hurt because of racism. African Americans were not welcome at many races. Some white bike riders attacked him. Some newspapers disrespected him. Marshall focused on winning. In 1901, he went to Europe. Marshall was a Christian. He would not race on Sundays. In Europe, the bike races were on Sundays. They changed the day of the races. Marshall won the bike races in Europe. From 1902-1904, he raced in Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In 1910, when Marshall was 32 year old, he retired. 8
The Black Cyclone: Major Taylor Marshall was not only a bike racing champion. He married Daisy Morris in 1902. They had a daughter, Sydney. He started a business. In 1928, he published his story or his autobiography. He moved to Chicago, Illinois and tried to sell his book. When Marshall died in 1932, he was poor and away from his family. He lost his business. Today he is remembered as an excellent athlete. Marshall was healthy and religious. He always followed the sport s rules. He learned how to win and to lose. He challenged segregation and discrimination. He was a gentleman champion. Bicycle Brigades: African Americans Soldiers Bicycles were for sports. Bicycles were also for soldiers. Until 1947, the U.S. military was segregated. African American and white soldiers were separated or apart. Only white soldiers could be officers or bosses. There was a lot of discrimination. African Americans still joined the military. In 1896, an African American military group, the 25th U.S. Army Bicycle Corps, tested bicycles for transportation. Before the bicycle, the military used horses. The African American soldiers practiced or trained for a 1,900-mile trip. They trained for one year. They rode about 60 miles a day. They carried 76 pounds of gear on their bikes. The gear was food, clothes, tools and blankets. It was a difficult trip. The bike soldiers were champions. They traveled two times as fast as a horse. 9
Comparison / Contrast: Bicycle or Automobiles? United States People Cars Price of a new car Bicycles Price of a new bicycle Miles of paved roads Average income Price of a new home 1900 75,000,000 8,000 $1,168 (average) 20,000,000 $40 (average) 10 miles $647 / year $2,225 (average) 2015 320,000,000 265,000,000 $33,560 (average) 80,000,000 (?) $110 (average) 4.1 million miles $53,000 / year $337,000 (average) In 1900, to go to work most people walked or rode in a carriage with a horse or in a streetcar. By 1900, many streetcars were electric. About 5% of people rode to work on a bicycle. The first cheap car was a Model T. In 1914, it cost $490. The average income or what people earned was $687 / year. Few families could buy a car. By the 1930s, there were more paved roads and gasoline stations. Many families could not buy a car. In the 1950s, more families could buy a car. By 1960, one out of three (1 out of 3) people in the U.S. had a car. Today, one out of two (1 our of 2) people in the U.S. have a car. Is a bicycle a freedom machine? In Philadelphia, more people ride a bike to work than in Chicago and New York City. People have fought or worked to make it easier to ride a bike in Philadelphia. Percentage of people who commute (ride) a bicycle to work Philadelphia Chicago New York Los Angeles 2.3% 1.6% 1.0% 1.0% Walnut Street Bridge, 1990 Is a bike is a freedom machine. Do you agree or disagree? Agree Disagree Free (after you buy the bike) Great exercise heart, muscles Safe Easy to park Easy to drive Good for the environment Fun to ride Faster than walking Other ideas. 10
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