1868年，源自 bi- “兩個”和希臘語 kyklos “圓圈，輪子”的拉丁化形式（參見 cycle（n.）），按照 tricycle 的模式，這個詞和車輛取代了早期的 velocipede。
一些詞典中說，英語單詞可能不是來自法語，但1868年的引文是在法國的背景下：
The velocipedes, about which the Parisians have run mad at the present moment, are of various kinds. ... The two wheel velocipedes, the bicycles as they are styled, are intended for the male sex only, and are by far the swiftest machines. ["Supplement to the Courant," Hartford, Conn., Dec. 16, 1868].
速足車，巴黎人目前瘋狂追逐的，有各種各樣的。...兩輪速足車，也就是所謂的自行車，只適用於男性，是迄今爲止最快的機器。【“Courant”的補充，康涅狄格州哈特福德，1868年12月16日】。
法國馬車廠的員工皮埃爾·拉勒芒在1865年改進了麥克米蘭1839年的腳踏速足車，並將這項發明帶到了美國。另見 pennyfarthing。作爲動詞，從1869年開始使用。
The velocipede of 1869 was worked by treadles operating cranks on the axle oi the front wheel. This was modified in the earliest form of the bicycle by greatly increasing the relative size of the driving-wheel and bringing the rider directly over it. Later the "safety" bicycle was introduced, in which the wheels were made of equal or nearly equal size, and for the direct action upon the front wheel was substituted indirect action upon the rear wheel, by means of a chain and sprocket-wheels .... [Century Dictionary]
1869年的速足車是通過踏板操作前輪軸上的曲柄來工作的。在自行車的最早形式中，通過大大增加驅動輪的相對大小並將騎手直接置於其上來進行修改。後來，推出了“安全”自行車，其中車輪大小相等或幾乎相等，並通過鏈條和鏈輪間接作用於後輪，代替了對前輪的直接作用....【世紀詞典】
