The Bicycle Craze and Its Spread to Merced, California by Adriano Dore
Figure 1. Conversation between Buggy and Cyclist, 1900. Source: Merced County Courthouse Museum. The Bicycle Craze and its Spread to Merced, California By 1 Adriano Dore Gomes Da Costa 1The author, being also an editor, recused himself from the editing process regarding this article. It received no special treatment and was required to conform to all standard requirements. 9 Introduction The city of Merced is home to roughly 80,000 inhabitants located in the heart of California’s Central Valley.2 Although situated in the middle of the state, far away from the coast and big cities, it is connected to the rest of California and the United States. Merced was founded in 1872 and became an important center of business and economic activity in Merced County.3 By the 1890s, it was a city of agricultural and material production. Furthermore, it became a departing center for all of Yosemite’s lumber.4 In that same decade, Merced’s little population of 2,009 residents5 had four newspapers, in which one could explore the latest news and trends, further connecting it to the world outside of the Central Valley. In the 1890s, the United States was experiencing the Safety Bicycle Craze. The Safety Bicycle Craze was the massive growth in popularity and use of the modern-day bicycle. One would not have expected the young city of Merced to have a passion for this craze. After all, the city was still relatively young and many of the roads were dusty and unpaved. However, this research demonstrates the impact a given craze can have on a small city.
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