Because of subdivisions.
The contemporary subdivision has replaced interconnected neighborhoods.
The modern subdivision has one or two exits onto busy secondary roads with no other way to get to schools, churches, stores, etc. Kids can't get anywhere safely without walking or riding on busy streets whereas interconnected neighborhoods used to provide multiple routes to such places using relatively quiet residential streets.
Contemporary subdivisions have ruined police enforcement - the foot patrol is no longer practical and so police are now stuck in cars and rarely enter subdivisions unless called.
The concept of a minivan owes its existence to the rise of non-connected subdivisions. Everyone wants a giant house with a pool and playground in the backyard and a home theater in the basement so that they don't have to leave the subdivision.
It has not been good for society.
Originally Posted by
thinktubes
what shocks me is the size of the backpacks these kids have to lug.
+1
My daughter's backpacks were ridiculously heavy as early as 2nd grade and some kids have those folding carts to wheel their bookbags.
-Tim-