Final answer:
Automobile and airplane technology did not greatly influence bicycle technology; while there may have been some indirect crossover in materials and manufacturing processes, significant developments in bicycles were largely autonomous.
Step-by-step explanation:
Is it true that automobile and airplane technology greatly influenced bicycle technology? The answer is not straightforward. While the bicycle industry has evolved over time, it did so mainly through advancements within its own field, such as improvements in materials and design. However, the rise of automobile and airplane industries certainly affected the way bicycles were perceived and used. With the invention of the car by Karl Benz and mass-produced models like Henry Ford's Model T, transportation experienced a revolution. The car provided a faster means of travel which overshadowed the bicycle as a primary mode of transport, especially in the United States and Europe.
Moreover, the development of rubber and petroleum industries, due to the demand created by the automobile industry, indirectly supported improvements in bicycle tires and lubricants. On the other hand, advanced manufacturing processes and material science developed for cars and airplanes may have trickled down to the bicycle industry, leading to stronger and lighter bike frames.
Hence, the statement that automobile and airplane technology greatly influenced bicycle technology is somewhat false, as the most significant developments in bicycle technology occurred autonomously and were not directly driven by innovations in the automobile or aviation sectors.