Question

[Velocipedes] were briefly popular among the wealthier classes in England and parts of the United States. But with no brakes and with their main power coming from the rider’s feet running along the ground, these wooden "horses" had their limitations.

Inventors began to explore the idea of attaching cranks or pedals to the velocipede’s wheels as early as the 1820s.

–Wheels of Change,
Sue Macy

Read the passage, then identify the problem and the solution.


What was the problem with the velocipede?


What was the solution?

Answer 1

Problem: Velocipedes had no brakes and were propelled by the rider’s feet running on the ground, making them hard to control and inefficient.

Solution: Inventors added cranks or pedals to the wheels so riders could pedal the machine directly.