Sioux Falls Builds Sidewalk-Free School, Tries to Stop Kids From Walking

Stories like this one help explain why we have a childhood obesity epidemic in the United States.

Network blog the MinusCar Project reports that a new school recently opened in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, along two busy thoroughfares that have no sidewalks. A local TV station explains that children are still walking to the middle school because it’s close to their homes, which has parents concerned for their safety.

Here is the principal’s solution:

“[W]e’re trying to problem solve and trying to figure out how to best bus 100% of our student population.” Principal [LaVonna] Emanuel wants all students to be safe and if anyone is walking to school, wants to find out why. “We would definitely want to work with the family find out what’s going on, did the child miss the bus? Just what’s going on,” she said.

Granted, Principal Emanuel likely had no say as to whether sidewalks were installed — the school district says that was up to the city — and to her credit she says she wants the school to function as a “neighborhood school” soon. But parents wonder why proper infrastructure wasn’t built at the outset. Said one: “I’m glad they have school buses for everybody, but they should still have it set up so kids can walk. They did take the time to pave the roads and everything around this area that have been dirt and gravel roads. So I think they should take the time to at least put up some sidewalks.”

Elsewhere today: Delaware Bikes reports that a study ranked the First State the country’s most dangerous for pedestrians. The author of Transitized explains how he moved across the country with the help of Amtrak. And Better Cities & Towns offers 12 steps for cities looking to reduce pedestrian deaths.