Read this excerpt from the introduction to Wheels of Change by Sue Macy. When I was a kid, I took great pleasure in jumping on my bike and riding to the corner candy store about half a mile away. Although I had no knowledge of the part the bicycle had played as a vehicle of change for turn-of-the-20th-century women, I was acutely aware that it allowed this 1960s girl a unique measure of independence. On my bike, I could break free of the bonds that held me in my neighborhood to go buy Necco Wafers and candy necklaces and Atomic FireBalls. If I felt particularly adventurous, I could even ride a bit farther for a fresh ice-cream cone at Applegate Farm.

The author’s purpose for including this in the introduction is

to describe the research she conducted for Wheels of Change.
to explain the historical significance of bicycles.
to establish her credentials as an expert on bicycles.
to emphasize her personal appreciation for bicycles.