As more than one-third of children and adolescents are overweight or obese, designers and planners are tasked with creating walkable, safe environments that are accessible for even our youngest walkers.
Unfortunately, many U.S. neighborhoods were created with isolation and selectivity in mind. The farther away from walkable destinations, the less chance outsiders wander in.
So how do we apply the connected, urban design of the Atlanta BeltLine or New York City’s Highline to more suburban areas? We must strive to create safe, interesting routes from neighborhoods to schools and places of employment to encourage active transportation for all.