[jyrkesh]

Why stop at comparisons to China? Parents have no problem doing this across Europe too, with both bikes and Vespa-style scooters.

I.e. to me, the problem is the US mentality towards car-minded transportation infrastructure, not the expectation of safety in a given culture.

[IshKebab]

I think you haven't been to Europe... Or maybe China. The difference in attitudes to road safety is very significant.

For example, deaths per 100k cars per year in China is 105. In Europe it is 19. In Western Europe it's about 7.