Cycling
Cycling is a global activity for transport, sport, and recreation.
Cycling, also known as bicycling or biking, is the activity of riding a bicycle or other types of pedal-driven human-powered vehicles such as balance bikes, unicycles, tricycles, and quadricycles. It is practiced around the world for purposes including transport, recreation, exercise, and competitive sport. Cycling became popularized in Europe and North America in the latter part and especially the last decade of the 19th century, and today over 50 percent of the human population knows how to ride a bike.
- field
- Transport, recreation, exercise, competitive sport
- known_for
- Use of bicycles for transport, warfare, and sport; over 50% of humans can ride
- popularized
- Europe and North America, late 19th century
Lore & Background
The bicycle has been used as a method of reconnaissance as well as transporting soldiers and supplies to combat zones, taking over many functions of horses in warfare. In the Second Boer War, both sides used bicycles for scouting. In World War I, France, Germany, Australia and New Zealand used bicycles to move troops. Germany used bicycles again in World War II, while the British employed airborne 'Cycle-commandos' with folding bikes. In the Vietnam War, communist forces used bicycles extensively as cargo carriers along the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
Reader's Guide
Cycling's significance lies in its versatility as a mode of transport, a tool of war, and a means of recreation and sport. The bicycle has proven effective for carrying goods, children, and soldiers, and its design has evolved into many specialized types: utility bicycles for daily transport, road bikes for speed and efficiency, gravel bikes for mixed surfaces, mountain bikes for rugged terrain, and e-bikes with motorized assist. Infrastructure varies widely; in some jurisdictions, cycling has declined where motor vehicles were given priority, while in others, building bike lanes and paths has helped cycling rates remain steady or increase. The activity requires skills such as handling traffic safely, and many schools and police departments run educational programs to teach children bicycle handling and road rules. Cycling's legacy includes its role in major 20th-century conflicts and its continued importance in countries like Denmark and the Netherlands, which have the most bicycles per capita and often use bicycles for everyday transport.
Did You Know?
- Over 50 percent of the human population knows how to ride a bike.
- UCI regulations stipulate a legal race bike cannot weigh less than 6.8 kg (14.99 lbs).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cycling?
Cycling is the practice of riding a bicycle or other pedal-powered human vehicles like unicycles, tricycles, and balance bikes. It is a worldwide activity pursued for transportation, leisure, fitness, and competitive competition.
What fields does Cycling operate in?
Cycling spans four main domains: everyday transport, recreational riding, physical exercise, and organized competitive sport. Its versatility across these areas is what makes it one of the most universally practiced activities on the planet.
When and where did Cycling rise to prominence?
Cycling was popularized across Europe and North America during the latter part of the 19th century, with the final decade of that century seeing the biggest surge in adoption. That period established the cultural foundation for the activity's global spread.
What is Cycling most known for?
Cycling is recognized for its use in transport, warfare, and sport, and for the remarkable fact that more than half of all humans on Earth can ride a bicycle. These combined achievements make it one of the most universally accessible forms of human-powered mobility.
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