How did the geometry of the safety bicycle significantly improve rider stability?
It featured two wheels of approximately equal size, drastically lowering the seat height and center of gravity.
Stability on the safety bicycle was dramatically enhanced through its redesigned geometry, primarily characterized by having two wheels of nearly equal size. This allowed the seat and the rider to be positioned much lower to the ground, placing the center of gravity significantly closer to the ground plane. This low placement meant that mounting, dismounting, and especially stopping were inherently safer operations because the machine was much less prone to tipping or violently pitching forward. Furthermore, the low seating position ensured the rider's feet could easily reach the ground, providing a reliable means of support to prevent falls without relying solely on the machine's balance.
