‘Bike and Roll’

AZLE — Azle Elementary students had fast fun and a police escort on their way to school the morning of May 17. For National Motorcycle and Bicycle Safety Month, the City of Azle and Azle Elementary partnered together to give students an exhilarating end of the year treat.

Azle Municipal Court staff, police and firefighters organized the event and offered an escort from the Azle Fire Department, 900 Lakeview Drive, to Azle Elementary, located at 1200 Lakeview Drive.

“A lot of the schools in different counties, cities and states are doing the National Ride Your Bike to School Day which is called the Bike and Roll,” court clerk Karstin Courtney said. “It’s pretty well known in other states, but this is our first year. Felicia (King, court administrator) told me to get online and look at some stuff and we just put it together in like a week or two.”

For 0.4 miles, students biked, scooted and walked along Lakeview Drive just after 7 a.m. Azle ISD Police Chief Darren Brockway hopes to hold a longer event next year.

“We’ve got more kids with all the new housing developments,” Brockway said. “It’s nice to put a bike safety thing out there. Felicia did a bang-up job with this.”

Students who finished the ride said they enjoyed the experience and hope to bike to school more often in the future.

“I had so much fun,” fifth grader Kayli Fordinal said. “I absolutely loved this. It was my first time riding a bike to school and I did it with my best friend and I’m very happy.”

“I had fun,” Bella Pelt added. “I got to bike with my bestie.”

At the end of the journey, city officials raffled off two bikes donated by the Azle Walmart to lucky students: Elizabeth Scott and Jonathan Elizalde.