It was called a laufmaschine, or "running machine" in German. And it was essentially the world's first bicycle.

There were no pedals, no seat, and no chain to connect the wheels; the rider basically had to propel the laufmaschine with his feet, then balance on it once achieving sufficient momentum.

It was crude, but it worked. And von Drais showed off his machine to the world that summer day by riding 7 kilometers in roughly one hour.

The reaction was instantly divisive.

Some people thought the laufmachine was as significant as cave men inventing the wheel, and they envisioned a future world in which bicycles dominated transportation.

Others thought it was a silly, unnecessary, dangerous invention. And many in the press derided von Drais's invention, pejoratively calling it a "dandy horse".

Plus several governments, including in the United Kingdom, the US, and even Germany, banned its use for posing too much risk to pedestrians.