Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race.

The saying is widely circulated as a remark by H. G. Wells about seeing adults ride bicycles as a sign of societal progress. The earliest close match located in the discussed research appears decades after Wells’s death, in a 1988 letter to a cycling magazine, and later versions spread through newspapers and books. Multiple later writers also pointed to specific Wells titles as the source, but searches of those books did not find the line.

The quote frames adult bicycling as evidence of maturity, responsibility, and a healthier civic future—suggesting that choosing a simple, human-powered mode of transport reflects values that make society more sustainable and hopeful.

Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race.

When I see an adult on a bicycle, I have hope for the human race.

When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race.