Boys' Uniformed Group: Activities--Biking

Figure 1.--Younger Scout groups like Tiger Cubs and Cubs often organize bike programs and activities. Boys of this age are often just beginning to ride bikes and the saftey and other training is very important.

Biking is an activity that is popular with boys. Bikes probably were of greater importance at the mid-20th century when it was safer for children to rides their bikes. Generally biking activities are organized by younger units of boys' uniform groups, such as Cubs or even Tiger Cubs. This is because the younger boys need clinics and other activities associate with biking. By the time a boy becomes a Scout, he generally has become an accomplished biker. In addition, biking is less suitable for Scouts because major Scout camps are primarily geared to camp activities which do not require long distabce transportation. At least American Scouts have not been heavily involved with biking. HBU is less sure of Europe. Scouts mave have been more involved with biking there. We have, however, little actual information. We have seen photographs of Balail units with bicvycles.

Popularity

Biking is an activity that is popular with boys. The bike was, however, a relatively expensive item, especially before World War II. Thus many memners of a youth group may not have owned one--complicating group bike activities. This was less of a problem for middle-class based groups like the Scouts than mass organizations like the Hitler Youth and Pioneers. Bikes probably were of greater importance at the mid-20th century when it was safer for children to rides their bikes. With the move to the suburbs, families now often live at such distances from parks, shops, and schools, that biking is now less useful than it once was--especially for younger boys. This may be somewhat less true for some Eiropean countries where biking is a major form of transportation.

Chronology

We have noted Scouts using bikes from the earliest days of the organization. Oue rarliest image is a group of Dutch Scouts who appear to be on a patrol outing on their bikes. We have not yet, however, developed detailed chronological information on biking.

Youth Group

Biking seems more associated with Scouting than other youth groups, but this may be just because we have more information on Scouting than other youth groups. We have noted photographs of Hitler Youth boys riding bikes, but we do not know if there were organized Hitler Youth biking activities. There do appear to have been Italian Balial bikining activities. We do not know about the Young Pioneers or the Boys' Brigade.

Figure 2.--The bike helment in the 1990s became a required item for biking activities o organized youth organizations. This British Cub wears a modern bike helmet with his uniform.

Age

Some biking activities are organized by younger divisions of boys' uniform groups, such as Cubs or even Tiger Cubs. This is because the younger boys need clinics and other activities associate with biking. By the time a boy becomes a Scout, he generally has become an accomplished biker. In addition, biking is less suitable for Scouts because major Scout camps are primarily geared to camp activities which do not require long distabce transportation. This apparently has been a trend that has changed over time. In earlier years we do note older Scouts involved in biking activities.

Countries

Biking as a youth activity has varied among countries as well as over time. We have noted Scoyting activities on bikes, especially in Europe. American Scouts do not seem to have been heavily involved with biking. I can recall no biking activies as a Cuba nd Scout in during the 1950s. Scouts appear to have been more involved in biking in Europe. We have, however, little actual information. We note some relatively early images of European Scouts involved in biking activities. We have also seen photographs of Italian Balial units with bicycles. Biking is very popular in some European countries. This varies greatly, however, so there are probably substantial differences from country to country as to the extent that bikes have been used by youth groups in those countries.

Uniforms

Boys have generally worn their normal uniforms for biking. In recent years boys have increasingly worn the more casual versions of their uniform. One uniform item has been added in recent years--the helmet. Helmets began to be commonly worn in the 1980s anf by the 1990s they were being required. Bikers now almost uniformally wear helmets. Organized uniform groups that sponsor biking activities require helmet use.