The Developing of Transportation 



Man's Idea of constructing a device whereby he could 

 propel himself on v^heels not drawn by animals is a modern 

 idea dating back a little more than one hundred years. 

 Apparently the first step In this direction was an evoluted 

 form of the child's play horse commonly known as the 

 "hobby horse." The new device was known as the "Dandy 

 horse." It consisted of two wooden wheels held In iron 

 forks in a similar manner to that of the modern bicycle. 

 These forks were fastened together by a bar of wood with 

 handle bars on the front fork in order that It might be 

 guided in the desired direction. A cushion or seat was 

 placed on the middle of the bar upon which the rider sat. 

 It was propelled by his feet pushing against the ground. It 

 would coast down hill without any pushing. This Idea was 

 the ancestor of the bicycle and riding the "Dandy horse" — 

 especially down hill — became a great fad In England about 

 one hundred years ago and they were also in common use by 

 postmen. It was an easy step In adding a crank, pedals and 

 a sprocket wheel which made the bicycle. Bicycling became 

 the craze of continental Europe, England and America. 

 New records of speed were established only to be beaten 

 again until the record time of the stagecoaches were beaten 

 by about one-half. Thus, with a muscle propelled machine, 

 man had transported his body over long distances at a 

 greater rate of speed than had ever before been done 

 except by the locomotive on steel rails. 



A speed of forty-one miles an hour had been attained 

 by the muscle driven bicycle, but human muscles become 

 fatigued by long continued violent exercise. It had become 

 a means of rapid transit by professional and business people 



[89] 



