Lake Placid Police Officer Chad Blinn waits with a herd of Lake Placid Elementary School bikers at the intersection of Station Street and Old Military Road on Wednesday, Oct. 9. (News photo — Grace McIntyre)

LAKE PLACID — About 50 Lake Placid Elementary School students and their parents braved a nippy fall morning on Wednesday, Oct. 9 for the school’s first-ever Walk Bike & Roll to School day. Mist hung over Mill Pond and the colorful hills surrounding the Lake Placid-North Elba Historical Society building on Station Street as cars dropped off kids and bikes.

Walk Bike & Roll to School is one of a few national events that schools can participate in to encourage students to be active and learn about bike safety. This year, just over 4,000 schools participated nationwide, according to the organization’s website.

Amanda Cassidy, a long-term substitute teacher at LPES, had the idea to participate in this event because she remembers hearing about it on the news while getting ready for school, year after year.

“And I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh, we should be doing something like this in our tiny little village,'” Cassidy said.

This year, she decided to make it happen. At the end of last year, she approached the school’s principal, Sonja Franklin, and gathered community members. With the help of the Community School Coordinator Keith Clark, she got the police and fire departments on board.

Jason Leon, Lake Placid Elementary School teacher, and students Quinn Monahan and Henrick Witt prepare for the home stretch as they bike to school as a part of the first annual Walk Bike & Roll to School event on Wednesday, Oct. 9. (News photo — Grace McIntyre)

“Yep, we can make it work,” Cassidy said, recalling the response from Lake Placid Police Chief Chuck Dobson.

The departments made a strong showing — in addition to Sergeant Chad Blinn, who was in the mix with the students on his bike, Justin Roy from the Lake Placid Volunteer Fire Department, Makenzie Hayes and Nick Sweeney from the LPPD and Koby Rider from the Essex County Sheriff’s Department were all there.

Although this was the school’s first year participating in this national event, they have provided other opportunities for kids to learn about bike safety and to encourage them to walk and bike to school, Clark said. In June, High Peaks Cyclery comes to their field day to do stations with the kids and the LPES physical education teacher, Makenzie Patinella, has been eager to include bike riding in the curriculum. With the addition of the Adirondack Rail Trail, Clark said there have been even more opportunities to encourage kids to walk and bike.

“If you look at the number of bikes at the elementary school, kids that are riding the school, it’s pretty significant,” Clark said. “So I think we’ve advocated an active lifestyle.”

Cassidy estimates that around 10 to 20 students ride their bikes to school every day and said there are a families from as far away as Averyville that are committed to their active commute. She was pleased with the turnout for this year’s ride, estimating that they had about 90 people in total, including parents, teachers and members of the police and fire departments.

Noah and his mom, Jessie Sangster, pose for a photo as Noah prepares to lead the first Walk Bike & Roll to School event at Lake Placid Elementary School on Wednesday, Oct. 9. The other end of the sign was held by Principal Sonja Franklin. (News photo — Grace McIntyre)

As the procession waited to leave, the kids wheeled in circles, some pulling on gloves and hats. Lucas and Rylee, who are cousins, could barely keep still long enough for a photo. Noah was recruited to hold the other end of the Walk Bike & Roll sign, along with Franklin, and it instantly made his day. When asked what he was most looking forward to during the ride, he answered: “Carrying the sign!”

When the time came, a Lake Placid police car led the way and fire truck brought up the rear. As the herd took off, Clark congratulated Cassidy and said, “You better keep this going!” Cassidy said that she would, but maybe with coffee next year.

Lake Placid Elementary School students Jace and Jarren Marra wait for the action to start near the Lake Placid-North Elba Historical Society location on Station Street Wednesday, Oct. 9. This was the first year LPES has participated in the national the Walk Bike & Roll to School event. (News photo — Grace McIntyre)

Lake Placid Elementary School student Cooper V. waits at the intersection of Station Street during the Walk Bike & Roll to School event Wednesday, Oct. 9. (News photo — Grace McIntyre)