{{Short description|Bicycle adapted to the needs of armed forces}} {{More footnotes|date=July 2023}} thumb|right|MO-05 of the Swiss Army [[File:BicycleBersaglieri2.jpg|thumb|right|World War I Italian Bersaglieri with folding bicycles]]
A '''military bicycle''' is a bicycle specially adapted to the needs of armed forces. In use since the early 20th century in many armies throughout the world, bicycles allow for silent movement and increased mobility on the battlefield. Additional advantages of military bicycles are that they allow individual soldiers to carry more supplies without being encumbered and are very inexpensive to manufacture and maintain when compared to horses and vehicles.
== History == The first bicycles were introduced into the armed forces of several nations in the late 19th century. By 1890 the Austro-Hungarian army used the Waffenrad model from the Austrian Weapons Factory Company (ÖWG) in Steyr.<ref>Ulreich, Walter (1995) ''Das Steyr-Waffenrad'' Gnas: Weishaupt Verlag ISBN 3-900310-83-1</ref> In 1897 the U.S. 25th Infantry Bicycle Corps used a Spalding Military 'Special' model.<ref>[https://onlinebicyclemuseum.co.uk/1897-spalding-roadster/ 1897 Spalding 25th Infantry Military 'Special'] onlinebicyclemuseum.co.uk</ref> From 1900 Germany's Bielefelder Maschinenfabrik AG produced its bicycle model "Diana 30" as a military bicycle.<ref>[https://velopedia.online/Document/Show/290 ''Dürkopp Catalog 1900''] pp. 30–31 velopedia.online</ref> By the time of the start of World War I, all combatants were using them.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://bsamuseum.wordpress.com/ww1-military-bicycles-in-world-war-one-wwi/|title=WW1 MILITARY BICYCLES IN WORLD WAR ONE (WWI)|date=2014-06-04|newspaper=The BSA & Military Bicycle Museum|language=en-US|access-date=2017-02-02}}</ref> The German Army had 36 independent companies of bicycle infantry, a battalion of cyclists attached to every cavalry division, and an additional 10 reserve bicycle companies and 17 replacement crews. The Italian Army's Bersaglieri troops were the first to use folding bikes. The U.S. Army used a Columbia military model.<ref>[https://onlinebicyclemuseum.co.uk/1918-ww1-columbia-military-model/ 1918 WW1 Columbia military model] onlinebicyclemuseum.co.uk</ref> During World War II bicycles were introduced to paratroopers as a means to provide them with transportation following the landing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bergerwerke.com/historyG519.html|title=History|website=www.bergerwerke.com|access-date=2017-02-02}}</ref> The U.S. also used them as general light transport, and for messenger duties.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theliberator.be/militarybicycles.htm|title=Military Bicycles|website=www.theliberator.be|access-date=2017-02-02}}</ref> Separate units of bicycle infantry existed in armies of many nations until the end of 20th century; it was not until 2003 that the Swiss Army reformed its last three Bicycle Infantry Regiments. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, there was a resurgence in the testing of all terrain and folding bikes for use by infantry in battle and patrolling cities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.militarybikes.com|title=Montague Paratrooper- Tactical Folding Mountain Bike|website=www.militarybikes.com|access-date=2017-02-02}}</ref>
Some innovations introduced in bicycles designed for military use found their way to civilian markets as well, such as coaster brakes and the cyclometer.{{cn|date=July 2023}}
In modern times, bicycles and electric bicycles are still used by many armies around the world, but there are no separate bicycle infantry units.
== See also == * Bicycle Infantry * Swedish military bicycle * Swiss army bicycle * M42 Truppenfahrrad
== References == {{refs}}
== Further reading == * {{cite book| title=The Bicycle in Wartime: An Illustrated History |author=Jim Fitzpatrick |year=2011 |isbn=978-0980748017 |publisher=Star Hill Studio}} * {{cite book| title=Bicycles in war |author=Caidin, Martin & Jay Barbree |year=1974 |isbn=0-8015-0614-X |publisher=}} * {{cite book| title=Bad tooth no bar |author=Kirsch, Colin |year=2018 |isbn=978-1-910500-92-7 |publisher=Unicorn Publishing}} * {{cite book| title=De militaire wielrijders |author=Knoops, L |year=1995 |isbn= |publisher=}} * {{cite book| title=Das Truppenfahrrad |author=Maiwald, Barbara & Verhoeven, Piet |year=2016 |isbn=978-3-613-04276-6 |publisher=Motorbuch Verlag}} * {{cite book| title=Deutsche militärfahrräder bis 1945 |author=Maiwald, Barbara |year=2021 |isbn=978-1-52676-351-8 |publisher=Pen & Sword Books Limited}} * {{cite book| title=The military history of the bicycle |author=Norris, John |year=2021 |isbn=978-1-52676-351-8 |publisher=Pen & Sword Books Limited}}
{{Human-powered vehicles}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Military bicycles Category:Cycle types