Minibike Program Canceled by YMCA; Insurance Blamed
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CHICAGO — The YMCA said today it has canceled a national program that takes troubled youngsters off the streets and puts them on minibikes because of a 320% hike in liability insurance.
The YMCA’s national headquarters told 110 program centers in 33 states to cancel further activities and lock up the minibikes by Friday.
“Our negotiators are still hoping to put something together,” said Solon B. Cousins, the YMCA’s national executive director. “But at this stage we have to notify all of the deadline.”
The program, begun in 1969, has provided 15,000 minibikes to boys and girls ages 11 to 15 who have had trouble at home, in school or with the police. Children in the program learn to use and repair the bikes in exchange for a pledge of good behavior.
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