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First Ride from Mannheim

When: 12 June 1817
Where: Mannheim to Schwetzinger Relaishaus
Part of: Karl Drais drives his dandy horse (Laufmaschine) at Mannheim

Karl Drais rode his Laufmaschine from Mannheim to the Schwetzinger Relaishaus on 12 June 1817, utilizing Baden's best road.

The ride connected Mannheim to the Schwetzinger Relaishaus, a coaching inn in Rheinau. This journey demonstrated the practicality of the two-wheeled vehicle as an alternative to horse-drawn transport during a period of severe horse shortages.

Sources

Karl Drais Wikipedia, revision of 2026-07-17

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