When I was a kid, the end of the school day meant lining up into two lines: those who rode the bus and walkers. Then, the lines were about equally divided; kids who lived in town walked home, those who lived outside the city limits took the bus. But a recent survey found that fewer kids are walking to school now than ever -- down from 90% in 1969 to 48% today. Nearly half of kids who lived outside of town walked or cycled to school in the 60s, while only 16% do so now.

As a parent, I think it's easy to see one of the biggest reasons for the declining number of "walkers" today: safety. But experts also say that busier family lives, convenience, and changing attitudes about exercise may also be coming into play. The National Center for Safe Routes to School is a group that's trying to address some of these issues and get more kids out walking again. If you want to encourage kids in your community to walk, consider taking part in International Walk to School Day on October 3rd.