YouTuber Shows Why Kids Can't Walk to School Anymore

When YouTuber Evan Edinger tried walking one mile from his childhood home to his old elementary school in Deptford, New Jersey, he expected a simple stroll down memory lane. Instead, he discovered exactly why 89% of kids no longer walk to school.

The journey started in his quiet residential neighborhood, which had no sidewalks at all. Edinger walked down the middle of the street, dodging overgrown weeds and poison ivy along the edges.

Once he reached a bigger road, things got worse. He walked in a bike lane next to cars speeding past at over 30 mph, then hit a metal guardrail blocking his path entirely.

"This is what the township thinks children should have to do," Edinger said as he navigated around the barrier. The walking path ahead was blocked by a sign and spiderweb, forcing him back onto the busy road.

He crossed a three-way intersection with no crosswalk or traffic light before finding his first sidewalk. That victory lasted about 50 feet before the sidewalk abruptly ended.

"It genuinely felt every single time like I could die," Edinger reflected about making this walk as a child. His video resonated with over 2 million viewers who recognized the same problems in their own communities.

The comments poured in from across the country. Parents in California said their towns were even worse. UK residents expressed shock at how unwalkable American neighborhoods had become. One commenter pointed out the devastating reality for wheelchair users in these areas.

The roots of this problem run deep. Edinger explains that in many parts of America, sidewalks are a private responsibility handled by individual homebuilders and businesses. No overseeing body ensures all the sidewalks connect or stay in good condition.

Budget cuts make things harder. His township recently tried eliminating bus service for kids living within two miles of school, but massive public backlash forced them to reverse the decision.

The bigger picture includes the auto lobby's invention of jaywalking laws that stripped pedestrians of their roadside rights. Meanwhile, cars got bigger, faster, and deadlier, making even sidewalk walking dangerous next to busy roads.

The Ripple Effect

Communities nationwide are fighting back through Safe Routes to School, a program that helps fund sidewalks, bike lanes, and crosswalks. The initiative also lobbies at the federal level for policies supporting walkability and pedestrian safety.

Edinger's video gives communities a powerful tool to advocate for change. By showing exactly what kids would face on their walk to school, he's helping parents push local governments to prioritize pedestrian infrastructure.

The solution isn't telling parents to be less anxious. It's building communities where a one-mile walk to school doesn't feel like risking your child's life.