Yep. Cell phones are a big "No," for me. Most younguns I see today (I'm 19) have their nose buried in texting, or are too afraid of nature or adventure to go out and live. My girlfriend's mom wouldn't let her walk home, (1.3 miles) from the movie store because it was dark out, and I was floored. Sure, she's a girl, but she's with me and besides, that's just fear. Women are every bit as independent and capable as men.
Where was I going?
Yes, kids these days are rather soulless. Many of the ancient cultures (the Mayans are getting the spotlight) point to this time in Earth's history as a time of change. A Guatemalan named Rigoberta Menchu came to my college last semester, and she's a pro on these things. She said the kids of today are known as (roughly translated) "The Kids of No Time," they are growing up in a transition between ages, don't know nature or themselves, only their things. The have no time and don't smell the roadside flowers. It's really, really sad.
People say, "All generations complain about the youth being worse but they never really are."

This time, they really, truly are. It's scary.

Anyway, this thread is about helping people, not today's misled youth.

But by encouraging cycling, we encourage a slower method of transport, getting somewhere, but also focusing on the journey, whereas cars focus on DESTINATION. Cycling encourages adventure and boundlessness, portability and self-reliance, things kids now need to find themselves.

Jim is a good and smart kid, but hopefully giving him a nice bike will keep him far from the other fools today.