12 June 1817: Karl Drais rides his Laufmaschine (running machi | History

12 June 1817: Karl Drais rides his Laufmaschine (running machine) about 4 miles from Mannheim to Rheinau. The proto-bicycle sells, but roads at the time are rutted by years of travel from horses and carts. The result is that people take them on pavements, endangering pedestrians and leading to the newly nicknamed 'dandy-horse' being banned in many cities.