BICYCLES ARE POPULAR

Chronicle (Levin), 7 May 1947, Page 4

BICYCLES ARE POPULAR

ONE IN EVERY TWO PUPILS RIDES TO SCHOOL Almost one in every two of the children attending the Levin P'rimary School rides a bicycle to the school each day. A few years ago the number of bieycles there was small, most of the» children walking to school, but today it is a very popular means of transport with them. A tally made yesterday disclosed that there were 160 bieycles in or around the sheds provided for those in the primary section of ihe school, In this department there are 350 pupils. Normally there would be -more than 160, beeause 60 pupils -are at present absent with chicken pox. The value of these machines would be upwards of £1600. ' Accommodation for the bieycles presents a problem, so much -so (Chat the headmaster (Mr, H. F. 'McClune) ) has had to place a prohibition oh children riding to .sehooi if they live in reasonably close proximity to it. There are . stands in the sheds for 100 machines and the other 60 must be left outside. The Levin School 'Committee has made repeated representations to the Wellington Education Board for more sheds, but no provision. has yet been ,made or even promised. Bieycles are not used to any .extent by the 260 pupils of the Infant- department, undoubtedly beeause of the road danger which exists for smaller children. Only 20 machines were cdunted in the infant shed, but there was a profusion of tricycles.