[saltminer]

That's because so much of the US is built around suburban sprawl and is incredibly hostile to anyone not in a car.

I'd recommend the youtube channel "Not Just Bikes", a guy who moved from Canada to the Netherlands. It's perfectly normal over there to do everything you said is unrealistic.

Imagine not having to chaperone your kids around until they're old enough to drive. In much of the US, this is unthinkable, and it takes a large mental toll on parents, but in the Netherlands, it's not uncommon for elementary schoolers to bike to and from school, friends houses, even riding public transit on their own.

In much of the US, your kids can be taken by social services for this, even if it was perfectly safe for them to do so. And even if it's legal to let your kids be fairly independent, it doesn't matter when you have to fight to get them back (very much "you can beat the rap but you can't beat the ride").

It's depressing just how far we've fallen under the guise of "protect the children".

[duderific]

> it's not uncommon for elementary schoolers to bike to and from school, friends houses, even riding public transit on their own.

I did all of these things when I was in elementary school in the late 70's, and biking without a helmet no less. Hours and hours with no adult supervision, biking all over town.

I even went to an theme park with my sister, without parents when we were 9 and 11 - took multiple buses to get there about an hour from my house. We got lost on the way home and didn't know which bus to get on. Somebody helped us and we were fine.

Can you imagine the outrage nowadays if such a thing took place.

[spicyramen]

No, that's incorrect I live in Orange county by far one of the best places for bikes and pedestrians and again I can tell you I won't use public transportation.