History of Land Transportation

Invention of Wheel (3500 BC)

100

3500 BC

Horses are Domesticated (2000 BC)

100

Horses are domesticated for use in transportation.

Iron Horseshoes are Invented

Mar 25, 770

Iron Horseshoes are invented to protect the feet of horses.

4-Wheeled Horse-Drawn Carriages

Apr 9, 1100

Horse-Drawn Carriages are developed, but they are only available to the rich.

Blaise Pascal Invents the First Public Bus

Mar 25, 1662

The first public bus is invented by Blaise Pascal.

1st Self-Propelled Road Vehicle

Apr 8, 1769

The first self-propelled road vehicle is invented by Nicolas Joseph Cugnot.

Modern Bike Invented

Apr 8, 1790

Modern bicycles are invented by Kirkpatrick MacMillan

1st Steam Engine

Apr 8, 1801

Richard Trevithick invented the first steam powered locomotive (designed for roads)

Hydrogen-Powered Vehicle

Apr 12, 1807

Isaac de Rivas makes a hydrogen gas powered vehicle - first with internal combustion power - however, very unsuccessful design

1st Practical Railroad Locomotive

Apr 8, 1814

George Stephenson invents the first practical steam powered railroad locomotive.

1st Gasoline-Powered Automobile

Apr 8, 1862

Jean Lenoir makes the first gasoline engine automobile.

1st Motorcycle

Apr 8, 1867

The Motorcycle is invented by Gottlieb Daimler.

Compressed Air Locomotive Brake is Invented

Apr 8, 1868

George Westinghouse invents the compressed air locomotive brake - enabled trains to be stopped with fail-safe accuracy

1st Car with Internal Combustion Engine

Apr 12, 1885

Karl Benz builds the world's first practical automobile to be powered by an internal combustion engine

Automobile Assembly is Improved

Apr 12, 1908

Henry Ford improves the assembly line for automobile manufacturing.

Drunk Driving is Illeagal

Apr 12, 1910

Drinking and driving became against the law. Intoxication was determined by arresting officers.

1st Bullet Train

Apr 8, 1964

Bullet train transportation is invented by the British and then sold to Japan.

U.S. Motor Vehicle Safety Act

Apr 12, 1966

Responding to the call for greater safety for car drivers and passengers, President Lyndon Johnson signed the U.S. Motor Vehicle Safety Act into law. It mandated seat belts, energy-absorbing steering columns and dashboards, warning flashers, and head restraints on all cars sold in the country.

Clean Air Act

Apr 12, 1970

Congress passed the Clean Air Act, setting standards for fuel consumption to increase engine efficiency and reduce air pollution. It also mandated installation of engine emission control devices. Engine horsepower dropped to accommodate the machinery.

Maglev Train

Apr 12, 2004

The first commercial high speed Maglev train starts operation between Shanghai and its airport.