While most who had to endure walking to and from school would not likely call it ideal, it was the norm throughout much of this countries history. Before the big yellow school bus as we know it existed, a child got to school however they had to, and regardless of rural or urban, rich or poor, as long as one had a pair of feet they had no excuse. As we continue into the 21st century, a return to these simpler times seems to be inevitable. A wealth of data and studies done across the world point toward a real value in the active transportation of a new generation of children. Greater safety precautions and access to widespread sidewalks and bike paths are bringing back a reinvigorated ideal when it comes to the journey to school. A new ideal which reflects much of the good, and little of miserable aspects that went to the average American childs journey to school in the 19th and 20th centuries.