Bicycles didn’t make sense until there were smooth roads. I often wonder what road like things we are missing because they are non obvious, but would enable obvious inventions once created. The world wide web was pretty similar (warning: very longform)
The quality of roads is relevant, but not really the answer. Bicycles can be ridden on dirt roads or sidewalks (although the latter led to run-ins with pedestrians and made bicycles unpopular among the public at first). And historically, roads didn’t improve until after bicycles became common—indeed it seems that it was in part the cyclists who called for the improvement of roads.
From this post about why humanity waited so long for the bicycle. I particularly recommend the discussion of how long it took to invent pedals and gears.
Bicycles didn’t make sense until there were smooth roads. I often wonder what road like things we are missing because they are non obvious, but would enable obvious inventions once created. The world wide web was pretty similar (warning: very longform)
A counterpoint to your first sentence:
From this post about why humanity waited so long for the bicycle. I particularly recommend the discussion of how long it took to invent pedals and gears.