Milford chronicle., 1952-12-05
- YOUR CHILD TODAY
Deor Santa:
Please Brine.
Ne d Bike
~ DAVID TAYLOR MARkE
Ar Education Reporter

Five million boys and girls will
ask Santa for a new bike for
Christmas, predicts the Bicycle In
formation Bureau. Grandpa and
grandma will play the biggest San
Ia roles. OF course, there will be
many parent, too, anxious to
please Junior with the bike Of his
choice.
Bicycles this year, says the Bu-
reau, will be light in weight, with
gear shifts for those who live in
hilly country and for those who
take long bike hikes. There will be
a folding bicycle that can be stored
in a closet or in the back of a car.
The 1853 models ere stream
lined and colOrful, and come in
variety of styles anu sizes. The
tires on these bikes are designed
like automobile tires with inner
tubes and outer castings made to
run four or five thousand miles,
and resistant to blow0uts.
There is usually one point on
which Santas fall down in buying a
bike, however, according to the
Bureau; they fail usually to get
the right size for the right age.
Definite sizes have been establish
ed for the various age groups and
If you know the age Of the child,
it should be easy to select the right
wheel for him. For the 4-and-5-
year-olds a sixteen-inch diameter
wheel is just right The 6-and-7-
year-Olds will need a 2O-inch wheel
while boys and girls from 8 to 10
will be comfortable on a 24-inch
wheel. Those over II should have
a 26-inch adult bicycle. All bikes
have adjustable seats and handle
bars to allow for growing and de-
velopment within respective age
limits.
For those learning to ride in the
four and six year age group, there
are supplementary learners or out
rigger wheels that can be attached
to the bike to keep it steady while
the youngster gets the feel" of
riding Once he has learned the
simple technique the outrigger
wheels can be discarded or saved
for little brother or sister.
Many parents fear for the safety
of their children while riding bikes.
But, according to the National Safe
ty Council, American bikes and BIZ
cyclists are the safest in the world.
In fact, the youngsters have chalk
ed up the only accident record we
Americans can be proud of. In the
past ten years, the Council tells us,
serious bicycle accidents have de-
creased so per cent. In 1851 alone,
there was a 10 per cent reduction
in such accidents over 1850 in the
face of a rapidly increasing bicycle
population which today numbers
over 21,000,0OO.
Right now there are more than
a million kids pedaling back and
forth from school every day. Thou
sands of them are IN the five and
six year old group who are going
to school for the first time.
According to the Council, child
guidance cOunsellOrs are pretty
much in agreement that the earlier
a yOungster begins to ride the
earlier he gains a sense of respOn-
eANAAAt4 Gnu D0G5AAAo " 5AOW up
They stress that parents should
cooperate with their PTAs and
schools in getting their children
to learn by heart these rules:
1. BE alert at all times.
2. Observe all traffic regulations
they are for your safety.
3. Keep well to the right of the
road at ali times.
4. Have a horn or bell or other
warning device.
5. Give pedestrians the right of
way.
6. Watch out for cars pulling out
Of traffic and for parked cars
with doors open.
z. Don't hitch onto autos or other
vehicles to save little pedal
pushing.
8. Stop at intersections and walk
your bike across if there is
traffic.
8. Use hand signals.
TO- Don't show off on your bike.
EIonS nov,.oa,