3What do you think is the best way to get around a city? Why?
2aRead the text. Label photos A–C with the correct names.
Brilliant bikes!
Cycling is becoming very popular now, not just as a type of transport but also for sport and leisure. In fact, there are more than a billion bikes in the world today, half of them in China! But did you know that the first bike was invented more than 200 years ago? A German called Karl Drais invented the 'Draisine' in 1817. It was wooden and didn't have any pedals so you had to push it along with your feet! Later, in the 1860s, the 'Boneshaker' bicycle appeared. It was made of metal and weighed about 80 kilos! Another early type of bike was the 'Penny Farthing'. It had a huge front wheel and a very small back wheel, which made it quite dangerous to ride!
An important change in the design of bikes came in the 1880s with the 'safety bicycle'. Both of its wheels were the same size, which made it much safer and easier to ride. As a result, cycling became very popular, especially with women. It gave them more independence and even changed the type of clothes they wore.
Cycling soon became popular as a sport too. The first time the Olympic Games included cycling was in 1896. Today the most famous bike race in the world is the Tour de France. It lasts for three weeks and cyclists have to ride through the Alps and Pyrenees.
Label photos A, B, C with: Draisine / Boneshaker / Penny Farthing
A.(wooden, no pedals)
B.(metal, 80 kg, earliest pedal bike)
C.(huge front wheel, small back wheel)
2bWork in pairs. Match the numbers with the explanations a–h below.
a) number of bikes in the world todayb) when the 'safety bicycle' was inventedc) year Karl Drais invented the 'Draisine'd) first year cycling was in the Olympic Gamese) weight of the 'Boneshaker' in kilosf) when the 'Boneshaker' was inventedg) number of years ago first bicycles appearedh) number of weeks the Tour de France takes
1.80
2.1817
3.1896
4.200
5.1860s
6.3
7.1880s
8.one billion
3Watch the video and number photos A–E in the order you see them.
A — Ronnie cycling on busy road · B — Ronnie cycling past parked cars · C — Ronnie at roadwork/cones · D — Ronnie cycling in park/greenway · E — Ronnie checking phone near bus stop
ARonnie cycling on busy urban road
BRonnie cycling past parked vehicles
CRonnie cycling past roadwork cones
DRonnie cycling in park / greenway
ERonnie checking phone near bus stop
4aRead the facts about cycling. Choose the correct alternatives.
4b Watch the whole video and check your answers.
5aComplete the extracts from the video with the words and phrases in the box.
go straight on (×2)come to a roundaboutin front ofnext tothe second rightturn leftturn right (×3)
1. Where am I? I'm at Roadmap Towers. It's easy to find, you
down the high street,
at the traffic lights, then
. At the end of that road you'll
, you'll see a big building
you. That's the studio.
2. Hello pizza. Yes, where are you? You're lost? You're where? No, no,
, take
, its
the cinema.
3. Hello pizza. You're still lost? Where? Where? At the police station?
,
.
5b Watch the video from 1:27–2:32 and check your answers.
6Work in pairs. Discuss the questions.
1Were you surprised by any of the facts about cycling in the video?
2In the video Ronnie talks about the advantages of cycling. Can you think of any disadvantages?
7Draw a simple map of your town, city or area and write the most important places on it. Swap maps with your partner. Ask them for directions from and to four different places on the map.
💬 Use direction phrases: "Go straight on…" · "Turn left / right…" · "Come to a roundabout…" · "It's next to / in front of…" · "Take the second right…"