Are kids "entitled" to have bicycles?

[rainbowcraft]

This is something that I meant to post before Xmas, when the boards went t!ts-up...

There was a few threads on the Nags board (e*ay) about this women who couldn't afford to buy her son a specially adapted bicycle (he's disabled), and the Nags regs did a collection for her.

Now, the general consensus was: every child is entitled to a bike/every child should have one/children who don't have a bike are missing out/etc.

This got me wondering what other people think. You see, MY children have never had a bike. I have never bought them one (financial restraints) and besides, there is absolutely NO room in this flat to keep a bike. Even if there was, where on earth could they ride it here in London? No cycling with the block's grounds, no cycling in the playground, I don't live near a park or common...so that leaves the roads...and of course, huge risks of being mugged for it...

Is it THAT important for a child to own a bike? HAVE my children missed out on something vital in their lives?

[Stu_Millard]

I loved having a bike when I was a lad, gave me a sense of freedom and I didn't have to rely on getting lifts or walking places.

[sludgeguts]

Did this woman really have a disabled child?

Sounds a bit of a scam to me...
I guess the words "please help my disabled child" would pull plenty of heartstrings.

Sorry to seem harsh but these days people will lower themselves to anything to con others & this sounds like a typical con.
Did she mention anything about her disabled child taking their new puppy out for walkies when they get the bike or the disabled child being able to visit his 100 y/o bedridden granny?

AND BTW, I don't think any child has a God-given right to a bike although it can be useful in later life if they can ride.