From the article:
This is just crazy. I walk quite a bit. We have an ice-cream shop and a few restaurants about a 1/2 mile from our house that we walk to. I also run 2-3 times a week. When I was first married, my wife and I would walk to the grocery store which was at least 3 miles away from our house. I used to complain about this at first but grew to really enjoy it. My wife can be attributed for my love for walking/running now. Had I not met her, I'd likely be driving to the ice cream shop. It also helps to live in a temperate climate. I can see why in Northern Minnesota they may not walk as much as we do here in North Carolina. I have found that walking is a good gauge of compatibility too. People have different paces and different ways of walking. For some it's all about the destination and getting there quickly, for others its about recreation and getting some exercise and for others its about meandering and stopping to "smell the roses". It's always good to walk with someone that has your way of walking. imo.
Carlin Robinson, 12, walks from her grandmother's car to the school bus in Manchester, Ky. Her house can be seen in the background. A study published in 2010, investigating high obesity rates in the town found that residents used cars to minimize walking distance, to the detriment of their health.