Short answers, pulled from the story.
The first practical bicycle known as the velocipede appeared in the 1860s. The safety bicycle introduced in the 1880s later democratized mobility by allowing women to escape the constraints of Victorian fashion and social norms.
Switzerland disbanded its last unit of bicycle troops in 2003. This event marked the end of an era where the bicycle served as a serious military asset for reconnaissance and supply transport.
The Tour de France began in 1903 and continues to capture the attention of the sporting world. It stands as the most famous of all bicycle races and has evolved to include road races, criteriums, time trials, and multi-stage events.
The Netherlands boasts some 35,000 kilometers of cycle-track that has been physically segregated from motor traffic. One quarter of all trips in the country are made on bicycles and one quarter of them are to work.
A Dutch study found that cycling can extend lifespans by up to 14 months while reducing the risk of cancers, heart disease, and diabetes. An Italian study assessed the impact of cycling for commute on major non-communicable diseases and found a lower incidence of type 2 diabetes, acute myocardial infarction, and stroke.
The League of American Wheelmen was founded in 1880 and changed to the League of American Bicyclists in 1994. This organization lobbied for the improvement of roads in the last part of the 19th century and led the national Good Roads Movement.