Bicycles are not only an affordable means of transportation, but also associated with some considerable health benefits. It was the year 2018, when the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared 3 June as World Bicycle Day to observe the day as a celebration of “uniqueness, longevity, and versatility” of the bicycle.
Professor Leszek Sibilski of Montgomery College, Maryland, USA, and his sociology class petitioned for the bicycle to have its special day, to recognize all its good qualities. “Cycling isn’t just good for the mind and the body, it helps people lose weight and stay active, prevent heart diseases, even cancer”, Sibilski said in an interview.
The United Nations encourages the world to devote particular attention to the bicycle in cross-cutting development strategies and to include the bicycle in international, regional, national and subnational development policies and programmes.
According to the UN, “To protect and promote pedestrian safety and cycling mobility, cycles should be integrated into sustainable mobility and transport infrastructure planning and design and particularly highlight the prevention of injuries and non-communicable diseases”.
On the occasion of this fun event, we are going to share with you Top 10 strange facts about bicycle:
- The word bicycle started being used several years after the first bicycles went on sale. The first models were called velocipedes.
- Bicycles save over 238 million gallons of fuel every year.
- In 1817, Karl von Drais, a German baron, invented a horseless carriage that would help him get around faster. The two-wheeled, pedal-less device run by pushing your feet against the ground. The machine became known as the “draisine,” and led to the creation of the modern-day bicycle.
- A 25-year-old Fred A. Birchmore, traveled the globe by bicycle in 1935. The entire trip, through Europe, Asia, and the United States, covered 40,000 miles. He pedaled about 25,000 miles. The rest was traveled by boat. He wore out seven sets of tires.
- About 100 million bicycles are manufactured worldwide each year.
- Bicycle Moto Cross (BMX), an extreme style of bicycle track racing, became a sport in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
- The longest tandem bicycle seated 35 people, it was more than 20 meters long.
- Cycling is one of the best pastimes for people who want to reduce the risk of having heart disease or a stroke.
- The smallest bicycle ever made has wheels of the size of silver dollars.
- 1-year maintenance cost for a bicycle is over times 20 cheaper than for a single car.
