From ever-lighter materials to inflatable helmets and foldable bikes, the history of the bicycle has been one of innovation and creativity. Biking has for years inspired a sense of freedom and empowerment for riders around the world, but over time, designs and materials have changed dramatically. In a new exhibition tracing important moments in the history of the bicycle, the Franz Mayer Museum in Mexico City teamed up with ITDP Mexico to highlight the growth and diversity of bicycles.

The exhibition is a celebration of cycling’s resurgence, in Mexico and around the world. As cities worldwide continue to add bike lanes, cycle-shares, and other pro-bike measures, the exhibition recognizes the bicycle’s immense contributions to urban mobility and to the sustainability of the planet.

On opening night of the exhibit, Tanya Müller Garcia, Mexico City’s Minister of the Environment, reaffirmed the importance of sustainable mobility. “This exhibition reiterates the commitment of the Government of the City of Mexico to promote cycling as a means of sustainable transport and culture.”

“A Return to The Bike is an event that, by its nature, encourages the public to take a renewed look at the role of the bicycle in urban mobility,” said ITDP Latin America Director, Bernardo Baranda. ” It offers a paradigm that celebrates their invention and promotes their use at a large scale”.

The exhibition features 52 bicycle designs, with a focus on Mexican manufactures. From classic models, like the 1960 Saeta racing bike, to modern innovations, such as bamboo bikes, the display aims to showcase the close relationship between developments in bicycle design and social and cultural progress.

A Return to the Bike will be open from January 28 to April 19, 2015. For more information on the exhibition, as well as several parallel events, including round table discussions and concerts, see the ITDP Mexico site and the museum’s website.

See pictures from the exhibition opening below, and click here for more.