The bicycle that we know of today, came into iteration in 1890 and the craze swept across the U.S. and Europe. Souderton and Telford in Montgomery County also hopped on the bike bandwagon.  

David H. Yerger of Telford was considered one of the fastest bicyclists in the area, but he soon discovered that zipping down the roads of rural Montco came with its dangers, writes Cory Alderfer for Souderton-Telford Society Newsletter.  

When he was riding down County Line, a young horse kicked him in the left leg, which caused Yeger to be thrown into a ditch. Other cyclists would often encounter snakes on the same road.  

The Olympian Cycle Club of Sellersville organized races, where Yerger and Edwin Kratz of Souderton showed off their skills. Prizes included bicycle gear, cakes, cigars, shoes, and even lamps! The two men often won these competitions.  

The debate over whether toll laws should apply to bicycles using highways or turnpikes came into consideration in 1895. However, it was determined that cyclists were not allowed to leave Souderton.  

By 1898, bicyclists shared the highways with buggies, but by 1899 trolley tracks connected Souderton with surrounding towns, which reduced the need for bicycle transport in between towns.  

Read more about Souderton-Telford’s bicycle history in The Reporter.  

The history of the bicycle.