Velocipedes History

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The history of bicycling in the United States starts in the years after the Civil War. In the 1860s, French mechanic invented 'contraption' known as “velocipedes”. At that time, users of velocipedes that was “poor man’s horse” were often called velocipedestrians. In spite of such prejudice, innovative means of transportation provided individuals rational, practical, and trustworthy personal transportation choice that did not need fuel or much by way of everyday maintenance and regular running cost. In 1869, in New York and San Francisco, new velocipede stores and rinks opened, providing people a chance to observe the new invention in live. Although the velocipedes were too exorbitant and large, they contributed the birth of a popular sport. …show more content…

It made great contribution to popularization and commercialization in the United States. A Practical and inexpensive bicycle became the best transportation unit for most of working and middle class consumers include children. On the other hand, women and African-American in the U.S. were still underprivileged compare to white males who laid the matter on the table to maintain their vested rights and benefit of the sport themselves. in addition to, the media such as Milwaukee’s Pneumatic invited Wheelmen-hosted events to mock and laugh at poor and other marginalized groups riders. Besides, the organizations endeavor to raise money to put up new Wheelmen clubhouses and influence increased political access. After 1893, the LAW reinforced discrimination against African Americans and women. In 1894, these efforts peaked a restriction on African American bicycling following a LAW conference in Louisville, KY,. Add to this unofficial and implied bans on women were usually occurred in not only in LAW, but whole of society. Indeed, equal access to Wheelmen clubhouses, events, and other popular (and profitable) early bicycling

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