Walking to School

Gail Carlson, writing for the PPS Blog:

Walking, for most of us, is the simplest, most natural form of transportation. And the health and environmental benefits are well documented. But few American parents choose walking or biking to school as a transportation option for their kids, even though according to the U.S. Department of Transportation in 2008 over 50 percent of us live within an easy, quarter to half mile walking distance from school.

How did such a simple act as walking or biking to school become a difficult decision for parents to make, or become a political lightning rod for school districts or city government? How have we changed as parents? How have our communities changed? What scared us into believing that driving our kids to school is the safest and only mode of transportation?

All are good questions.