---
title: Early Pedal Bycycle
author: Science Museum, London
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17298/early-pedal-bycycle/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
updated: 2023-04-20
---
# Early Pedal Bycycle
_Authored by Science Museum, London_
## Image File
[](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/17298.png)
## Image Caption
A model of the pedal bicycle invented by the Scottish blacksmith Kirkpatrick Macmillan (1812-1878) in 1839. There had been earlier two-wheeled vehicles, but these were not powered by turning the pedals with one's feet. Macmillan's bicycle had no gears so the rear wheel was made slightly larger than the front wheel. The famous 'penny-farthing' bicycle, popular from the 1870s, took this idea even further and had a significant difference in size between the two wheels. Bicycles soon became popular and allowed people of modest means to travel further than they could otherwise.
[Science](https://www.worldhistory.org/science/) Museum, London.
## Cite This Work
### APA
London, S. M. (2023, April 18). Early Pedal Bycycle. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
London, Science Museum,. "Early Pedal Bycycle." *World History Encyclopedia*, April 18, 2023. .
### MLA
London, Science Museum,. "Early Pedal Bycycle." *World History Encyclopedia*, 18 Apr 2023, .
## License & Copyright
[Original image](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MacMillan_Bicycle_Rev.jpg) by **Science Museum, London**. Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 18 April 2023. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon a work even for commercial reasons, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.