Bicycles provide many kids with their first experience of freedom. Bikes let kids travel alone for the first time, farther and faster than ever before. In fact, most of the estimated 66 million bicycles pedaling around the U.S. today are for kids.
While a lot of kids – and adults – ride bikes for fun, bikes are also a great way to get in shape and to get around. Eighty percent of all bicycles can be found in poorer countries, where they are important means of transportation. Removing bikes from China would be like removing cars from the United States.
Whether they’re used for fun or for needed transportation, bicycles remain the best low-tech way to get around. They have also set fashions, won battles, created new sports, and even helped launch the first airplane. Small wonder the bike is the most popular vehicle on Earth.
