BUD BREWER
One Man's Opinion
THE DIMIZE OF THE BICYCLE
In the pursuit of our Reno Youth Bridge program to teach middle school students how to play the game of bridge, it has become apparent that 12-14 year old students no longer walk or ride bicycles to school. As I arrive at our schools to help teach their after school bridge activity, I am struck by the fact that of the 900+ students attending each day less than a handful, if that many, use the bicycle to get to school and return home. It is typical to see ten or more school buses lined up to carry the kids home and along side the school bus are 50-60 suburban vehicles, or other automobiles with parents or assigned care takers at the wheel, waiting to pick up their charge. I got to thinking the other day when I noticed the traffic jam at one of our schools and began to recall the days when I attended what we called “Junior High School”. Our school had an area the size of two tennis courts laid out with bicycle racks and everyone was full each school day. The bicycle was our means to explore the city or county side. I rode it to work on the weekends. I rode it to friend’s houses to visit and hang out. I rode it to the movies and frankly, I can’t remember whether or not I had or used a lock to protect it while I was inside. When I had a hiatus from school during a period recovering from an illness, I began to play golf and I would ride my bike to the golf course over 4 miles away without a thought that I shouldn’t stray this far from home.
The bike I had was equipped with balloon tires for comfort. The handlebar was called a steer horn handlebar so I could sit tall and yet keep my hands on the wheel so to speak. When I got an early morning paper route for the Los Angeles Times, I would place a flat rack on the back attached to the seat post and the rear axel. I had a canvas bag that fit over the rack in which I would place about 60-70 morning newspapers. I got up at about 4:00AM, went to the pick up point, prepared the paper, and then rode around my various neighborhoods throwing the papers on the porch, driveways or other locations. I was an independent business man but didn’t really know it at the time. The deal the Times made with their carriers was one that wouldn’t stand the test of fairness in today’s world. The way it worked was that The Times would charge me $1.20 for each subscriber on my route and then I would have the responsibility to collect the full $1.50 price for the subscription each month. Come rain or shine, I would show up at the drop off, wrap the paper plastic if raining or fold it and put a rubber band around and then place it in my carrier bag along with the other 60+ papers. The problem I had was that at least 4-6 subscribers would stiff me on the collection every month and I would have to absorb the $1.20 loss for each one that I had to paid the Times. This procedure was the subject of great complaint and eventually the company decided to adopt new policies. As a matter of fact after a few months, the system was changed for the better and I would only have to deliver the paper for a fixed fee. I didn’t even have to collect. That was done by mail. But this early participation in the business world was a great source of cash flow for me to use to go to the movie or buy some gadget for my bike, buy War bonds or for personal pleasure.
When I graduated from Junior High, I assumed that I would use the bike for transportation to high school but upon arriving at the North Hollywood High campus, I found that there were few bike racks and less and less students riding a bike. It was beneath them, not cool. So not wanting to look foolish and wanting to be one to the guys or gals, I started to walk to school (exactly 2 miles). After a few weeks of sore feet I began to notice the same cars traveling on the road between my home and school, so I thought I would try to hitch a ride. The first car that came by was a Model T Ford driven by a senior student at North Hollywood High. From then on I would ride with him and walk home each day. And so, my trusty bicycle began to collect dust as it lay stored in our garage between rare usages. In my second high school term, my folks and I decided that I should enroll at the Army and Navy Academy in Carlsbad, California. From that time on I had little use or ability to use a bicycle so during the summer of my second year at ANA, I not only decided to sell my trusty balloon tired steer horn handle bar bike, but at the urging of my father, I took up flying lessons. But that is a story for another time.
In today’s world there seems to be a general lack of individual enthusiasm for using any form of transportation that requires physical effort to motivate. Perhaps the skateboard is in use but I don’t see it during my rounds of visiting the schools. No it is the parent or caretaker sitting in the car lined up for blocks waiting for dear Johnny to be released so he can jump in the back seat and be chauffeured wherever he wants to go while listening to I Tunes on his I-Pod or watching film on the DVD player. Riding the bus is no different as the students become conditioned to expect others to care for their every transportation needs. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have one day a week requiring students to walk to school from distances that are practical. Buses could be used for longer travel distances. If all those in a neighborhood could collect into groups that walked to school together on that one day week who knows what changes in individual appreciation and responsibility it would create.
One Man’s Opinion—Bud Brewer
This is a great story. It’s a shame that kids today, even those in families with modest means, are not taught to be self reliant in terms of getting around. Yes, times are different, and safety is a factor, however, today’s parents seem to overindulge their kids to make up for the fact that they had to ride their bikes or walk to get around and they don’t want their kids to have to go through that. I also enjoyed riding my bike around. In high school, I even drove a mo-ped around. It was convenient and you didn’t have to worry about parking or traffic. It’s no wonder kids are so overweight!