To the editor:

As a former teacher of young students I totally understand Dr. Solberg’s point about the need for kids to have times to socialize, to get together on their own, especially middle schoolers.

I grew up in a town similar to Barrington and remember those wonderful days when I could not only ride my bike to school but to my friends’ houses or downtown for a meetup. Those meetups were a standard Saturday morning routine. I loved the freedom and independence.

However, Dr. Solberg missed on a few important points.

As best I can find there is no formal educational process - as there is for people 16 and up – for kids to get their licenses to ride e-scooters, etc. Unlicensed kids on e-scooters and e-bikes demonstrate a lack of knowledge for the “rules of the road” because they have never been given the opportunity to learn them. Or do we just wait until a child has a bad accident and then explain why they hit a car? Or a car hits them?

Personal experience? I have myself witnessed at least three times when e-bike/e-scooter riders just missed being in a significant accident because of their lack of knowledge, or a sense of entitlement as in they can do anything.  One of those times an e-scooter rider went right through a stop sign and only missed hitting me because I stopped fast enough to avoid her. Imagine what would have been the result if I hadn’t responded as I did.

Finally, by letting their children ride e-scooters, etc., aren’t parents helping them to learn it is ok to ignore laws they don’t like? And no matter what other families might allow, what is wrong with saying “No”. A powerful word that could teach a life-long lesson. 

DS Pinkham

Barrington