Re:How Children Lost the Right to Roam in Just 4 Generations
by citiguy on Wednesday February 01, 2017 @10:27PM
(#13547856)
Maybe in the suburbs. Here in New York City kids are expected to make their own way home by the fifth grade. And take mass transit to school by themselves by sixth. I'm not sure if it's safe, but plenty of kids manage it themselves. My eight year old is eagerly awaiting the day he can walk home by himself.
Re:How Children Lost the Right to Roam in Just 4 Generations
by oftenwrong on Thursday February 02, 2017 @09:16AM
(#13550595)
New York City is one of the safest place to be a pedestrian.
See the "AMERICAN CAR-NAGE" section of Jeff Speck's Walkable City
https://books.google.com/books?id=kbfeAQAAQBAJ&lpg=PA37&ots=...
Re:How Children Lost the Right to Roam in Just 4 Generations
by kijin on Thursday February 02, 2017 @02:24AM
(#13548778)
It might have to do with the fact that fewer people drive in New York City. Suburban parents can drop their kids off at the school on their way to work. Trying to do the same in New York City would be a massive waste of time!
The last few decades were all about ever-expanding suburbs. It would be interesting to study the effect of urban revival and gentrification on parenting behavior and the larger culture over the next few decades.
https://savvytokyo.com/japan-prepares-children-independence/
Most American parents, on the other hand, don't teach their kids anything about being safe on the streets (other than basic theory, like "don't cross on a red light") because they're always shuttling them around in a car. The reason it's unsafe for American children to roam free is because they don't know how to. In the past, they learned from older siblings and friends. Nowadays there's nobody to teach them. And as soon as you turn 16, you're suddenly free to drive anywhere. It doesn't feel safe to be a pedestrian in a town where most drivers have never been a pedestrian. And so the vicious cycle continues.