Evening star., 1939-08-04
AnAccident
Experience
OF Horror
Child Wheel Riders
Need Adult Along
For Safeguard
By ANGELO PATRI.

S"AAAAAASJ oSSa 4ANCo III d kOOQs
sized town where there are busy
streets filled with trucks and cars,
side streets with enough trafiic to
warrant great care where little chill.
dren are concerned. And they are
always concerned when such street
traffic is considered. Drivers do not
want to hurt children. They do their
best to watch for them, but little
ones, especially when they are
mounted on wheels, are likely to ap-
pear on the street suddenly.
An accident to a child on the
streets is a terrible thing for the
driver, the mother and the victim.
Only those who have suffered such
an experience can understand the
fear, the horror and the mental
anguish 1t entails. Anything that
can be done to avoid such expert
ences must be done, and nothing is
too much to prevent one accident
to one child.
1t is unsafe for little children to
ride velocipedes, tricycles and scoot-
ers on the streets. They are cau-
toned to stay on their own block,
on the sidewalk, warned not to get
of that block, not to cross the
streets, not to pass the corner, but
they forget. The motion Of the wheel
carries them beyond the limits of
memory. and of the home block.
When child rides of the curb on
his little machine, just as a delivery
truck rounds the corner, an accident
is almost unavoidable. Better not
give the child wheel than that he
be injured.
These wheels are fine for the chill
dren, of course. They are valuable
equipment for them because they
help them to grow power in their
backs and legs, carry them farther
with less effort than their legs can
do, but if they run the child into
danger, better relinquish them. Or,
keep them under lock and key until
some responsible person can 60 along
and safeguard them.
All boys want a bicycle. Again we
must agree that it is one of the very
best possessions boy can have. He
can get so much pleasure out of it,
and such healthy pleasure-and he
can extend his fields of experience
in so many ways by its use-that one
hates to deprive him of it. But, if
he is not safe on the street, better
he does not own one.
1t seems to me that people who
walk, children who ride wheels, peo-
pie who use motor cycles, are en-
titled to their share Of the roads,
their share of protection while
using the roads. When we build
road, we ought to build it so that
everybody who wants to use it can
do so in safety. We need a pathway
alongside the motor highway for
pedestrians and wheels. Why can
not we have them? Surely we are
spending money enough to provide
for such an essential department of
our transportation.
Children with small wheels can
use the sidewalk. They ought to be
accompanied by an adult always.
Boys and others who use bicycles
and motorcycles ought to have their
own well-laid paths. The motor
driver is under severe strain as it is,
but when the wheels are added, it is
too much. The child and the adult
mounted on a wheel has a feeling
Of power and often takes a chance
that causes an accident. Wheel
riders, great and small, must have
more consideration. We simply can
not afford to endanger them, and
they have a right to ride their ma
chimes on the roads.
Mr.. Patri has prepared a leaf1et
entitled, "A Parents Prayer" which
Is an inspiring example for parents
to follow in bringing up children. It
is suitable for framing. Send for
it, addressing your request to Mr..
Angelo Patri, Child Psychology De-
partment, In The Evening Star. In
close a self-addressed, stamped g.
cent) enve1one