A large crowd of parents, kids, teachers and more gathered at Parks Hoke Park Friday morning taking part in the bike ride to school, which is becoming a fun tradition for Anna K. Davie students.
“This is a great way to kick off Spring Break with a bike ride to school, and the kids were really excited to participate. It’s just something different to get their school day started,” Anna K. Davie Principal Brant Amerman said. “We had a great group this year. It was a much larger group than last year. We had a lot of community participation and lots of staff members also participating. It was really exciting for me to see that and all these smiling faces as they were coming to school”
The crowd of roughly 80 kids and adults got on bikes, scooters and even walked the roughly three quarter mile distance to the school. Along the way, kids laughed, smiled, raced, and enjoyed being out and about on their bikes.
“I just love to see all these kids riding their bikes to school. Growing up, I rode my bike to school. My mother taught at our school when my sisters and I were young, and we all rode to school together,” Rome City Commissioner Harry Brock, who took part in Friday’s ride, said. “Our generation walked and rode bikes to school. It’s just great to see these kids laughing smiling and having a good time”
Police officers helped ensure the route was safe for all involved. When one kid’s bike chain had issues, three adults were able to stop and get her back on her bike quickly.
“This event is awesome. Last year, we didn't know if we were going to have anybody, and we had around 40 or 50 kids. It’s almost like a parade route when we are going,” Julie Smith, the Executive Director for TRED who also helps organize the event, said. “Moms and dads are standing on the porch and waving. It’s just so much fun, and we are so appreciative of Mr. Amerman and the support of Anna K Davie.”
This year close to 80 participants made the trek and several parents and Anna K. Davie staff members were there in case some of the younger pedalers needed an extra push or any help. When the large crowd got to the school, they put their bikes in bike racks, laughing and talking about the ride.
It’s that feeling of fun and freedom and just kids out riding a bike and enjoying time outdoors with friends that Amerman hopes the kids can learn from the experience.
“This is just one more way to emphasize to these students to get out and get some exercise,” he said. “Hopefully, they learn that they can ride their bike and get around the neighborhood and get out and enjoy time with friends.”
Brock said he hopes the kids will get out on their bikes more and learn about the many trials Rome has to offer.
”We have a great trail system and sometimes you just have to get the kids out of the house, so that they can see there are opportunities in Rome to do other things,” he said. “Hopefully, this is an exposure for some kids. Maybe we can get them out on the trials.”