200 Years of Bicycle History at Istanbul’s Koç Museum

The Rahmi M. Koç Museum in Istanbul is presenting a unique collection covering 200 years of bicycle history, from early wooden models dating back to 1818 to advanced designs from 2012.

The expanded exhibition was created following the acquisition of the prestigious Ward Brothers Collection from British collectors Daniel and Toby Ward. The chronological display allows visitors to follow the evolution of the bicycle through two centuries of engineering and design.

Two centuries of bicycle development

The exhibition traces the transformation of bicycles from the earliest wooden models without pedals and three-wheelers to the famous British bicycles with oversized front wheels and modern designs.

The museum has also published a 234-page book titled “From Pedals to Motors”, dedicated to the development of bicycles and motorcycles in its collection. The publication examines their evolution from an engineering and design perspective, as well as their influence on culture and society.

Selen İşyar, Deputy General Manager of the Rahmi M. Koç Museum, said that the museum was established in 1994 in the historic Lengerhane building in the Hasköy district.

Last year, we added 23 unique exhibits to our collection, which together demonstrate the historical development of the bicycle. This allowed us to expand the exhibition and present the evolution of bicycles chronologically.

According to İşyar, the museum reorganized the exhibits, prepared new information panels and arranged the models to make their history easier for visitors to understand.

The Istanbul museum now presents bicycles covering a period from the 1810s to 2012, allowing visitors to see different models from various eras in one location.

Bicycles as part of transport history

İşyar emphasized that bicycles have always held an important place in the museum’s transportation collection. She noted that a bicycle is more than a means of transport: from childhood, it is associated with freedom and play and continues to evolve alongside society.

Today, as people increasingly focus on environmentally friendly solutions and sports, bicycles remain an important part of everyday life and sustainable transportation.

The museum also plans to offer students the opportunity to explore different types of transportation, including bicycles that are now rarely seen on the streets of Istanbul, when school activities resume.

From Hobby Horse to Penny Farthing

Among the most technically and visually unusual exhibits is the Johnson Hobby Horse from 1818, the oldest bicycle in the collection. This wooden vehicle had no pedals and was propelled by the rider pushing against the ground with their feet.

According to İşyar, the model is considered one of the earliest prototypes of what is now known as a bicycle.

Another notable exhibit is the Michaux Velociped from 1869, which features pedals and a wide saddle.

The collection also includes the famous Penny Farthing, recognizable by its enormous front wheel and much smaller rear wheel.

The idea behind the design was to ask whether a bicycle would travel faster if its wheel was made larger. Although the construction was technically effective, maintaining balance was difficult, and the bicycle was eventually used as an acrobatic bicycle.

Unusual bicycle designs

The exhibition features a variety of three-wheeled bicycles, with wheels positioned either side by side or one behind another. Differences in wheel size and positioning demonstrate the engineering experiments of the period aimed at improving stability and speed.

The Coventry Rotary from 1880 was operated using hand levers and was specifically designed to make cycling more accessible to women.

The comfortable Ladies’ Tricycle by Singer, introduced in 1895 for women, became widely popular after attracting the attention of Queen Victoria.

The American Star from 1889 featured a design that shifted the cyclist’s center of gravity backward, reducing the risk of falling. The model also became famous after being ridden down the steps of the United States Capitol.

A journey through bicycle history

From the Johnson Hobby Horse of 1818 to advanced bicycles from later eras, the exhibition allows visitors to explore not only major developments in engineering but also changes in social life and transportation culture.

The collection demonstrates how bicycles evolved from early experimental vehicles into an important part of modern transportation, sport and everyday life.

Visitor information: The bicycle exhibition is presented at the Rahmi M. Koç Museum in Hasköy, Istanbul.