Which mode of transportation had an early version known as a "boneshaker?"

Also known as a velocipede, a "boneshaker" was an early bicycle built during the 1860s. It had anywhere between 1 and 5 iron or wooden wheels and an iron frame, which with the lack of springs used in modern bicycles, made it extremely uncomfortable to ride. A long flat spring to support the saddle was later added to absorb the many shocks from rough road surfaces.

The earliest usable velocipede was created by German inventor Karl Drais in 1817. Drais' design did not include pedals and was powered by the rider's feet pushing off the ground. The first pedal-operated bicycle was developed by the Michaux in France during the 1860s, and it was this version that earned the nickname "boneshaker". The "boneshaker" was also equipped with a brake so that the rider did not need to place their feet on the ground to slow down.

The next version of the velocipede was the "penny-farthing", which had an oversized front wheel. This proved just as unstable as its predecessor, so in 1885, a man named John Starley designed a "safety bicycle" that featured wheels of equal size and a chain that connected one wheel to the pedals. From there, adjustments to brakes and tyres resulted in the modern bicycle that is widely recognizable today.