The Rover Safety Bicycles: The Women's Rights Movement

Women have had to face a long journey in obtaining equality and freedom throughout history. There have been many factors, events, and individuals that have helped women make strides in gaining equality. There are well known individuals that have had a significant impact on Women’s Rights, such as Susan B. Anthony or Elizabeth Cady Stanton. There are also unexpected and unknown individuals that made strides for women’s rights using everyday objects to challenge the expectations and abilities that restricted women in the past. Who were some of these unknown individuals and what were some of these objects that challenged a woman’s role in American society? It took an intriguing character to provide an answer to these questions about the …show more content…
The popularity of the bicycle happened to coincide with the Women’s Rights movement and became a perfect tool to help showcase women’s abilities and attitudes. Bicycles are one of the most common modes of transportation in the world today. It is estimated that there are over a billion bicycles owned throughout the globe. Today’s bicycles are much different than when they first began. The Rover Safety Bicycle was developed in the 1880’s by J.K. Starling to provide a safer alternative to the big wheel bicycles of the time. The ordinary bicycle, or high wheeled bicycle, had been produced prior to the safety bicycle and were very difficult to ride. The large front wheel increased the speed of the bicycle but required a great deal of skill to ride. The large wheel and high position could make for an unstable ride, plus, a rider needed help to mount and dismount the bicycle. Ordinary bicycles were quite dangerous for riders and the safety bicycle, with two wheels that were of the same size, where much more stable for riders. This design would help bring on an age of massive demand and production of bicycles around the world. A major boom in the bicycle industry occurred in the 1880’s through 1910 with the establishment of the safety bicycle. People of all ages and ability levels could easily learn to ride the new design. With this new design and increase in manufacturing capabilities the safety bicycle would provide a mobile form of transportation to many people that didn’t have any. With an increased demand for bicycles around the world a much more affordable price accompanied this product. (BBC ) The safety bicycle made easy and affordable transportation available to citizens from every walk of life. People that couldn’t afford to buy a horse or carriage could afford a bicycle. From kids to women, the bicycle opened up new freedoms to people