[Brian_K_White]

The bus driver is the guardian, the kids are not unescorted.

What's no longer a thing is the kids going any further than eyesight of their front door to a pickup location on their own. Their parent can see them at the corner of the block, or goes with them.

[LeanderK]

that's insane! Even if they are 12 or even 15? (I assume something around 16 is the legal age where you can then drive?) Or are we only talking small kids like 6? I assume the bus stop is only max 10 min away?

For the context, here in the UK the streets are full of children walking from and to school every day. And in germany there's the discussion about making the cities safe enough so that every 6 year old can walk to school. Are you really saying that 14 year old kids can not walk alone to a local bus stop nearby? Because you don't trust them to navigate a street on their own and need a guardian? Or was it implicitly about children around 6-8?

Tbh I really enjoyed my walks to school. These were my first little moments of independence, I could pause a little bit and enjoy the summer atmosphere or rush home when my mom cooked my favourite meal. Maybe a small detour to buy some sweets at a small corner shop if I saved some money.

[Brian_K_White]

It is insane I agree. And it's not 100%. There are obviously still a full spectrum of parenting styles so some kids still get a little independence. And I don't know at what ages most kids start finally getting a little. Maybe by 14 they are on their own, but even in that case remember they all have tracking devices now.

[LeanderK]

I just wanted to say they probably now have 24/7 GPS-enabled tracking devices on them :) [1] It seems so dystopian! And as if the whole world is extremely dangerous except your lawn, also at the same time there's zero trust in your kids and their friends.

[1] I seriously wonder about the legality. Don't kids have rights to? And some right to some privacy?

[CalRobert]

In the US even adults barely have any right to privacy. I'm horrified by the proliferation of facial recognition. Airline attendants are always shocked I don't want to smile for the camera. I'll happily use an old fashioned boarding pass...