How many kids walked to school in the past versus now?

In 1969, 48 percent of US children aged 5 to 14 usually walked or biked to school. By 2009 it was 13 percent, according to the National Household Travel Survey. In two generations, walking to school went from the normal way to get there to the exception.

Why did children stop walking to school?

Two things decide whether a child walks: distance and perceived safety, and both moved the wrong way. Schools were consolidated onto larger sites farther from homes, the roads in between were widened for traffic, and fear of strangers rose even as crime fell. Research on the journey to school finds distance and safety are the strongest predictors of independent travel, and both are set by school siting and street design, not the family.

What are the benefits of walking to school?

The walk supplies real daily exercise: about 23 percent of a primary-school child's moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and about 36 percent of a high-schooler's. It also builds independence. Children who cross streets and find their own way practice risk assessment and decision-making, and independent-mobility research links it to motor skills, wayfinding, and cognitive development.

Is walking to school linked to child development?

Yes. Beyond physical activity, researchers tie children's independent mobility to motor skills, wayfinding, and cognitive development. One study found children on mixed-use, walkable blocks were 1.74 times more likely to earn good conduct grades than children on purely residential blocks. The evidence is observational, so it shows association rather than proven cause.

Does neighborhood walkability affect whether kids walk to school?

Strongly. Children in walkable neighborhoods walk and bike more, and the two predictors, distance and safety, are decided by street layout, school siting, and road design. Whether a child can walk to school is largely set by how the neighborhood is built. SafeStreets scores whether a neighborhood puts everyday destinations and safe streets to reach them within a short walk.

Why kids stopped walking to school

In 1969, 48 percent of US children walked or biked to school. By 2009 it was 13 percent. The walk supplied up to a third of a child's daily activity and taught independence. What changed was mostly distance and street design, not the child.

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