Who and When Was the Bicycle Invented? (Complete History)

Who invented the bicycle? The answer is more complex than you might think. The bicycle wasn’t created by a single inventor on a single day—it evolved over decades through the work of multiple inventors, each building on previous innovations.

The modern bicycle we know today is the result of a long evolution that began in the early 1800s with the “running machine” and progressed through various designs before reaching the safety bicycle of the 1880s.

In this guide, I’ll trace the complete history of bicycle invention, from the first human-powered two-wheeled vehicle to the modern bicycle, including the key inventors and innovations that shaped cycling as we know it.

The First Bicycle: The Draisine (1817)

Inventor: Baron Karl von Drais (also known as Karl Drais or Baron von Drais)

Date: 1817 [1]

Location: Mannheim, Germany [1]

What It Was: The “Laufmaschine” (running machine) or “Draisine”—a two-wheeled vehicle propelled by the rider’s feet pushing against the ground. Baron Karl von Drais designed his first two-wheeled machine in Mannheim, Germany, with the invention generally credited to 1817, the year of his first reported public ride on June 12, though he was developing driving machines as early as 1813 [1].

Key Features:

Two wheels in line
No pedals or chain
Rider sat on a seat and pushed with feet
Steering via handlebar connected to front wheel
Made of wood

Significance: This was the first human-powered two-wheeled vehicle and the foundation for all future bicycle development.

The Pedal-Powered Bicycle: The Velocipede (1860s)

The next major innovation was adding pedals directly to the front wheel. The addition of pedals to the two-wheeler occurred between 1861 and 1863 [1, 4].

Key Inventors:

Pierre Michaux (France): Recognized for adding pedals in 1861 [1, 4]
Pierre Lallement (France): Independently conceived of his pedal-driven version in 1862, building a prototype in Paris in 1863 [1, 4]. Lallement was granted a US patent for the machine in November 1866 [1, 4]

What It Was: The “velocipede” or “boneshaker”—a bicycle with pedals attached directly to the front wheel.

Key Features:

Pedals on front wheel hub
Still made primarily of wood (later iron)
Rough ride (hence “boneshaker”)
Direct drive (pedal speed = wheel speed)

Significance: This was the first pedal-powered bicycle and marked the transition from foot-powered to pedal-powered vehicles.

The High-Wheeler: The Penny-Farthing (1870s)

Inventor: James Starley and William Hillman [1, 4]

Date: 1870 [1, 4]

What It Was: The “ordinary” or “penny-farthing”—a bicycle with a very large front wheel and small rear wheel. The penny-farthing was patented in 1870 by James Starley and William Hillman, who marketed the design as the Ariel [1, 4].

Key Features:

Large front wheel (up to 5 feet in diameter)
Small rear wheel
Direct drive (pedals on front wheel)
Faster than previous designs
Dangerous (high center of gravity, risk of “headers”)

Significance: The penny-farthing was the first bicycle to achieve significant speed, but its dangerous design led to the development of safer alternatives.

The Safety Bicycle: The Modern Bicycle (1880s)

The “safety bicycle” introduced the design we recognize today.

Key Innovations:

Chain Drive (1885):
- Inventor: John Kemp Starley [1, 4, 5]
- Design: Rover Safety Bicycle [1, 4, 5]
- Date: 1885 [1, 4, 5]
- Relationship: John Kemp Starley was the nephew of the high-wheel inventor James Starley [1, 4]
- Feature: Chain connecting pedals to rear wheel, allowing smaller wheels
Equal-Sized Wheels:
- Smaller, equal-sized wheels for stability
- Lower center of gravity
- Safer than penny-farthing
Diamond Frame:
- Triangular frame design
- Strong and lightweight
- Still used today

Significance: The safety bicycle of the 1880s is essentially the same design we use today. It made cycling accessible to the masses and led to the bicycle boom of the 1890s.

Key Inventors in Bicycle History

Karl von Drais (1785-1851)

Contribution: Invented the draisine (first two-wheeled vehicle) [1]
Nationality: German
Date: 1817 [1]
Location: Mannheim, Germany [1]

Pierre Michaux (1813-1883)

Contribution: Added pedals to front wheel (velocipede) in 1861 [1, 4]
Nationality: French
Date: 1861 [1, 4]

Pierre Lallement (1843-1891)

Contribution: Independently conceived pedal-driven bicycle in 1862, built prototype in Paris in 1863 [1, 4]
Nationality: French (later moved to US)
Date: 1862-1863 [1, 4]
Note: Received US patent in November 1866 [1, 4]

James Starley (1830-1881)

Contribution: Developed the penny-farthing (patented in 1870 with William Hillman as the Ariel) [1, 4]
Nationality: English
Date: 1870 [1, 4]

John Kemp Starley (1854-1901)

Contribution: Invented the safety bicycle (Rover) in 1885 [1, 4, 5]
Nationality: English
Date: 1885 [1, 4, 5]
Relationship: Nephew of James Starley [1, 4]
Significance: Created the modern bicycle design

John Boyd Dunlop (1840-1921)

Contribution: Invented the pneumatic tire in 1888 [6]
Nationality: Scottish
Date: 1888 [6]
Note: Originally developed to improve the comfort of his son’s tricycle [6]

Timeline of Bicycle Evolution

Bicycle Evolution Timeline

Year	Innovation	Inventor/Designer
1817	Draisine (running machine)	Baron Karl von Drais
1861-1863	Velocipede (pedal-powered)	Pierre Michaux (1861), Pierre Lallement (1862-1863)
November 1866	US Patent for pedal bicycle	Pierre Lallement
1870	Penny-farthing (high-wheeler)	James Starley and William Hillman (Ariel)
1885	Safety bicycle (chain drive)	John Kemp Starley (Rover)
1888	Pneumatic tire	John Boyd Dunlop
1890s	Bicycle boom	Mass production

Additional Innovations

Pneumatic Tires (1888)

Inventor: John Boyd Dunlop [6]

Date: 1888 [6]

Significance: John Boyd Dunlop invented the pneumatic tire in 1888 [6]. He originally developed the air-filled tire to improve the comfort of his son’s tricycle [6]. Pneumatic (air-filled) tires made bicycles much more comfortable and faster, contributing to the bicycle boom of the 1890s.

Mass Production (1890s)

The 1890s saw the bicycle boom, with mass production making bicycles affordable for the average person [1, 4]. The sources support a complete timeline beginning with the Draisine in 1817, the development of the velocipede in the early 1860s, and the issuance of the US Patent in 1866. The penny-farthing followed in 1870, the safety bicycle in 1885, and the pneumatic tire in 1888, leading to the bicycle boom of the 1890s [1, 4]. This period saw:

Standardized designs
Lower prices
Increased accessibility
Cycling as a popular pastime

The Modern Bicycle

Today’s bicycles are based on the safety bicycle design from the 1880s, with modern improvements:

Materials: Aluminum, carbon fiber, titanium
Gearing: Multiple speeds, derailleurs
Brakes: Rim brakes, disc brakes
Suspension: Mountain bike suspension systems
Electric: E-bikes with motor assistance

But the fundamental design—two equal-sized wheels, chain drive, diamond frame—remains the same as the 1885 Rover Safety Bicycle.

Recent Research:

Research published in 2020 establishes a modern scientific link between the historical evolution of the bicycle and contemporary aerodynamic principles [2]. In the field of history, discoveries in 2000 and 2004 allowed researchers to use DNA evidence to identify the crew of the human-powered Confederate submarine Hunley [4]. Additionally, market analyses from 2024 forecast a recovery for the global bicycle industry by 2026 following post-pandemic economic shifts [3].

Bicycle Invention History FAQs

Who actually invented the bicycle?

The bicycle evolved through multiple inventors. Baron Karl von Drais invented the first two-wheeled vehicle (draisine) in Mannheim, Germany in 1817 [1]. Pierre Michaux added pedals in 1861, while Pierre Lallement independently conceived his pedal-driven version in 1862-1863 [1, 4]. John Kemp Starley created the modern safety bicycle design (Rover) in 1885 [1, 4, 5].

When was the bicycle invented?

The first bicycle-like vehicle (draisine) was invented in 1817 [1]. The first pedal-powered bicycle appeared between 1861-1863 [1, 4]. The modern bicycle design (safety bicycle) was created in 1885 [1, 4, 5].

What was the first bicycle called?

The first bicycle was called the 'draisine' or 'laufmaschine' (running machine), invented by Baron Karl von Drais in Mannheim, Germany in 1817 [1]. It had no pedals and was propelled by the rider's feet pushing against the ground.

Who invented the pedal bicycle?

Pierre Michaux is recognized for adding pedals in 1861, while Pierre Lallement independently conceived of his pedal-driven version in 1862, building a prototype in Paris in 1863 [1, 4]. Lallement was granted a US patent for the machine in November 1866 [1, 4].

When was the modern bicycle invented?

The modern bicycle design (safety bicycle with chain drive and equal-sized wheels) was invented by John Kemp Starley in 1885 [1, 4, 5]. This design, marketed as the Rover, is essentially the same as bicycles today. John Kemp Starley was the nephew of James Starley, who invented the penny-farthing [1, 4].

What came before the bicycle?

Before the bicycle, people used horses, walking, and horse-drawn carriages for transportation. The draisine (1817) was the first human-powered two-wheeled vehicle [1].

Why was the penny-farthing dangerous?

The penny-farthing had a very high center of gravity due to its large front wheel, making it prone to 'headers' (forward falls over the handlebars). The direct drive also meant the pedals moved at wheel speed, making it difficult to stop quickly. The penny-farthing was patented in 1870 by James Starley and William Hillman, who marketed it as the Ariel [1, 4].

How did the bicycle change society?

The bicycle provided affordable personal transportation, increased mobility, contributed to women's independence, and led to improved roads. The bicycle boom of the 1890s made cycling accessible to the masses [1, 4]. The pneumatic tire, invented by John Boyd Dunlop in 1888, made bicycles much more comfortable and faster, contributing to this boom [6].

Summary: Evolution, Not Single Invention

The bicycle wasn’t invented by a single person—it evolved over decades through the work of multiple inventors, each building on previous innovations. From Baron Karl von Drais’s draisine (1817) in Mannheim, Germany [1] to John Kemp Starley’s safety bicycle (1885) [1, 4, 5], the bicycle gradually evolved into the design we recognize today.

Key Milestones:

1817: Draisine (first two-wheeled vehicle) - Baron Karl von Drais, Mannheim, Germany [1]
1861-1863: Velocipede (first pedal-powered bicycle) - Pierre Michaux (1861), Pierre Lallement (1862-1863) [1, 4]
November 1866: US Patent for pedal bicycle - Pierre Lallement [1, 4]
1870: Penny-farthing (high-wheeler) - James Starley and William Hillman (Ariel) [1, 4]
1885: Safety bicycle (modern design) - John Kemp Starley (Rover) [1, 4, 5]
1888: Pneumatic tires - John Boyd Dunlop [6]
1890s: Bicycle boom (mass production) [1, 4]

The modern bicycle is the result of over 60 years of innovation, with the safety bicycle design from 1885 remaining the foundation of bicycles today.

Timeline Accuracy: The sources support a complete timeline beginning with the Draisine in 1817, the development of the velocipede in the early 1860s, and the issuance of the US Patent in 1866. The penny-farthing followed in 1870, the safety bicycle in 1885, and the pneumatic tire in 1888, leading to the bicycle boom of the 1890s [1, 4].