“I ride my bike, I roller skate, don’t drive no car.” – Melanie, 1971.

Jody Rosen’s new book “Two Wheels Good” tells the story of the most popular form of transportation humankind has ever known: The Bicycle.

Invented by Comte de Sivrac in Paris in 1791, it debuted as a two-wheeled scooter-like device. The front wheel didn’t steer. It was an invention, but an impractical one.

In 1817, Baron Karl Drais’ hobby horse was straddled and propelled by the rider’s legs. It had a steerable front wheel. Next was the velocipede and the high-wheeled bicycle with the pedals connected to the front wheel.

Th...