Tag Archives: Bicycles

Let’s Talk About: Women’s Safety Bicycles

by Donna Phillips


In the carriage house adjacent to the Campbell House in Spokane was a most interesting display of  a Woman’s Safety Bicycle in the 1890s. “Medium-sized wheels and a chain drive eased the physical strain of bike riding. A string skirt guard, hygienic breathable leather seat, and pierced metal chain guard made riding safer for women.” The image is of Helen Campbell riding on the handlebars of just such a bicycle. Below is that bicycle. 

Bicycles revolutionized women’s lives. It necessitated changes in clothing (shorter skirts and (horrors) trousers); it offered independence from home or husband; it became a symbol of women’s liberation and a tool for the feminist movement. 

These early bicycles were heavy (up to 50 pounds) compared to today’s bikes at 20-30 pounds. In 1890, a new safety bicycle cost between $100 and $150, roughly $3000 to $4500 in today’s money, making it a luxury item for the wealthy. Prices did drop to an average of $75 by the mid-1890s due to increased competition. They represented a significant investment, often costing one to two month’s wages for an average worker. So Google says. 

What garb do you wear when riding your bike? And what is your bike like? Aren’t you once again you live today and not in the 1890s?

Let’s Talk About: Dutch Bicycles

by Donna Phillips

In April 2024, I was blessed to spend two weeks in Holland on a Viking riverboat cruise. Besides learning that Gouda cheese is “wunnerful,” I eagerly soaked up lots of Dutch history. Since many family historians find that they have a family line going back to the Netherlands (proper name of that little country), I thought I’d share some of the Dutch history bits that I learned.

Yes, bicycles are EVERYWHERE. We were told that there are about 18,000,000 people in Holland and at least 25,000,000 bikes. Our guide quipped, “I have three!” Bikes have the right-of-way, not pedestrians. We were constantly told to watch out where we were walking!! 

Some bikes are super fancied-up (note the “oog-gga” horn) and some are modified to carry small children or old folks. We were also told, with a big smile, that if you were angry with your wife or boyfriend, you’d push their bike into the canal! That must be true, he said, for every year they haul out hundreds of bikes from the canals. 

We were also taught that there are NO school buses in Holland. The children ride their bikes to school…… up to an hour each way!!!  And it rains over 200 days per year!! No sissies there for sure. And with all that bike riding, the only chubby folks I saw were the tourists. 

Would you or I be up to riding a bike every day, everywhere?????