In 1839, Scottish blacksmith Kirkpatrick Macmillan is credited with adding treadle pedals to a draisine-like vehicle, creating one of the earliest pedal-driven bicycles. Although the exact details of his invention are debated, it represents a significant advancement in personal transportation technology. Macmillan's innovation laid the groundwork for the development of modern bicycles, which would later transform mobility and recreation.

Kirkpatrick Macmillan's invention of treadle pedals revolutionized transportation, inspiring Victorian poets to celebrate innovation and labor. The imagery of progress and the working-class innovator became prominent themes in the poetry of the era, reflecting a society in transition and the value of human ingenuity.