The Economic Times

In 1839, a Scottish blacksmith invented the first rear-wheel-driven vehicle which set the world in motion and laid the foundation of modern transport

In 1839, a Scottish blacksmith invented the first rear-wheel-driven vehicle which set the world in motion and laid the foundation of modern transport. Kirkpatrick Macmillan built a pedal-operated bicycle using wooden wheels, iron rims, treadles and connecting rods. His machine allowed a rider to move without pushing against the ground. His role remains debated by historians.