Monthly News Of The Department Of Washington

Bicycle
Safety
Club

CAPTAIN STEPHAN F. SANISLO, Director

The war, to a great extent, has raised havoc with our youth activities, which included Bicycle Safety Clubs. The once high place held in the number of Bicycle Safety Clubs organized, as well as the total enrollment just prior to our nation entering the war, gained for us national recognition.

As many of the Post Bicycle Safety Club chairmen were retired comrades, they were recalled for active duty. Soon war activities resulted in many of the Posts not being able to select the proper leaders and because of many new activities created by the war, it became necessary to decommission Bicycle Safety Clubs until such time as this important youth activity could again be reorganized.

In the meantime, there has occurred a sharp rise in bicycle accidents throughout the nation. It will never be known how many lives we saved when Bicycle Safety Clubs flourished throughout the nation as sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, but as we scan the list of the increasing number of fatalities since the war, we see only too plainly that our efforts in time and in money was well spent. In this respect, we can take justified pride in what seemed to the uninformed as just a waste of time. We also know that our efforts were a factor in helping to keep the youth interested in a most vital program.

We must keep alive the thought that in the not too distant future, we will again revive the formation of Bicycle Safety Clubs. Already, the rapid break-down of bus facilities affecting the transportation of children living in the rural areas, is compelling many children to walk up to certain distances. This is also resulting in many children riding their bicycles greater distances to school with the daily danger of being struck down by careless drivers.

Many children will receive bicycles for Christmas. In many cases, they were purchased because the bicycles will be the only means of going to and from school. School authorities will appreciate any help we can give them to impress upon the children the need of a careful observance of all bicycle safety rules. Call upon your local police chief and offer the assistance of your Post to carry on the work of bicycle safety. It will be worthwhile if we save the life of only one child.