[bsedlm]

of course it does have to do with walkabale cities.

to walk in a city that is not set-up for walking is clearly an odd thing to do.

if the city were set-up for walking and people walked it, a group of 4 persons walking wouldn't be an oddity

[woweoe]

You could bet you that those four people would have the same thing happen to them in Japan's walkable cities as well. It is nothing to do with walkable cities.

[bsedlm]

at least have enough courage to admit that 4 teenagers would make you nervous. there's nothing wrong with being alert. teenagers can be dangerous and unpredictable. the dividing line IMO, would be behaving preemptively in such a scenario.

[_se]

4 teenagers would not make me nervous. Happens many times per day for many of us. Parent comments are talking about something different than "common sense" or "being alert". Profiling is a real thing that many people have to deal with.