Can Landscape Architects Get Kids to Walk to School?

Fewer kids are walking to school these days. This piece from the American Society of Landscape Architects' Land Online wonders what landscape architects can do to reverse the trend.

1 minute read

April 17, 2008, 8:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg


"Granted, it's more risky for today's kids to walk than it was for me and my generation, and many parents don't favor their kids walking. Some of the reasons have to do with the physical structure of the suburbs where most American families live. Many of the newer 'burbs don't have sidewalks, and road crossings are wider and traffic faster than they used to be. Then there is the fear lodged at the back of every parent's mind that his or her child could be snatched up by a predator."

"Solutions do exist. One organization, Safe Routes to School (www.saferoutesinfo.org), has developed a structured program to show communities how to plan and build safe routes to school (or identify and map existing routes), encourage kids to travel in groups, and train them to avoid strangers. Federal transportation legislation devoted $612 million for the National Safe Routes to School Program from 2005 through 2009. With these institutions and incentives, what are landscape architects doing to implement Safe Routes to School and similar initiatives in school districts where walking is feasible?"

Tuesday, April 15, 2008 in Land Online

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

July 11 - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

July 11 - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

July 11 - Cities Today