A 'Tough Love' History Of The Bicycle

Bicycles are a symbol of freedom. Women suffragists hopped on bicycles to defy the patriarchy at the turn of the century. A child learning to ride their bike – and finally freeing themselves from their parents' grasp – is an early step towards independence. In 1989, young people streamed into Tiananmen Square on bicycles to protest China's communist government.Bicycles, however, have a complicated history. The early surge in biking's popularity in the late 1800s also meant a surge in demand for rubber. Belgian King Leopold II extracted much of that rubber from Congo, enslaving and killing millions of Africans as he did so.During the pandemic, many people tried to avoid public transportation and get outside. City infrastructure, however, often pits bicyclists against drivers for a place on the road.We explore the history and mystery of the bicycle with Rosen and turn to a bicycle activist for his perspective on the current issues facing cyclists.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.