D9. Bicycles - History, Mystery & Future

The bicycle, human powered transportation, is a great invention.  “Across the world, more people travel by bicycle than any other form of transportation.”  We’ll discuss the history of its invention, and related inventions such as aviation. (The Wright Brothers were bicycle mechanics and applied learnings from bicycles to create flying machines.) We’ll explore the mystery and images of flying bicycles in literature, novels and science fiction.   Remember “ET”?  We’ll learn about Worcester’s famous cyclist, Major Taylor. We’ll discuss the role of bicycles in women’s emancipation.   Looking forward, what can we expect in the 21^st century as bicycles become an emblem of sustainability (green machines) in the era of climate change.