Vasárnapi Könyv. 1914. Első félév 12. füzet

In this lively historical sketch the reader is taken back to the very moment a two‑wheel wooden contraption first rolled onto the streets of early‑19th‑century Europe. Karl Drais, a restless inventor from Karlsruhe, built a foot‑powered “running machine” in 1813, then proved its speed by covering a four‑hour journey in just one hour, astonishing doubters who had expected a laughable failure. The narrative captures his daring demonstrations, the crowd of curious children, and the amused ridicule that greeted his early rides.

Drais quickly turned the novelty into a business, publishing a detailed price list for simple frames, adjustable seats and even two‑seat models, a glimpse of the marketing ideas that survive today. He demonstrated the machine's practicality by riding postal routes and by touring Parisian boulevards, yet city officials repeatedly barred cyclists from sidewalks, and financial strain forced the inventor into continual struggle. Listening to this account reveals the mix of optimism and obstruction that marked the bicycle’s slow climb from curiosity to commonplace transport.