The bike racks were full at Walnut Grove's James Kennedy Elementary the week of June 3 to 7, as Bike To School Week saw a lot of students ditch being dropped off by car.
A poster has stickers for each student who rode a bike, walked, or took a scooter to school this week.
Much of the work of promoting and organizing Bike to School Week this year was done by teacher Geraldine Jordan's Grade 5/6 class.
Jordan is a committee member with HUB Cycling Langley, a local bicycle advocacy group.
All students in the school were invited to participate in Bike to School activities this year, with daily draw prizes which were donated by MEC, Velocity Cycles, and HUB. Students could win bike lights, bike bells, water bottles, and vinyl stickers.
Keira Comrie and Iris Zhang were among the students who helped out with the Bike to School projects in the class this year.
Ironically, neither of them rode their bikes to school this week – they both live close enough to walk. Both of them enjoy riding their bikes in their free time, however.
"I like getting fresh air," said Comrie. "I just like being outside all the time."
"Riding bikes is just really fun for me," Zhang said.
"Bike to School Week has so many healthful benefits, including students arriving at school energized and ready to learn, better physical and mental health, increased awareness of community, better safety in school zones, improved local air quality and carbon-free transportation," Jordan noted.
The week also saw things quiet down in the school's parking lot and drop-off zones.
"We've noticed a huge reduction in cars coming through the parking lot, which is nice," said Principal Cathy Gracie.
That makes a big change for James Kennedy, which is the largest elementary school by enrolment in the district, she said, with 680 students this year.