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But what you don't see in that 0.01% statistic is we have already acclimated to a world where kids are fortified against being hit by cars ( and it still happen

But what you don't see in that 0.01% statistic is we have already acclimated to a world where kids are fortified against being hit by cars ( and it still happens ). The days of walking to school, the local playground, or a corner store are very much in the past and one of the major reasons is because we have built a car centric world where you can't walk or ride. You can't teach kids to be independent if you have made it so they can't be independent which is exactly what car culture has done to kids. Kids can't be independent until they reach driving age, because any other independence is far too dangerous.

arcticbull 7y ago
> The days of walking to school, the local playground, or a corner store are very much in the past and one of the major reasons is because we have built a car centric world where you can't walk or ride. No, they're gone because many parents don't want to let their children out of their sight because humans are terrible at balancing the tiny risk of a very serious negative outcome, and many Americans have lost all appetite for risk. What you're suggesting isn't strictly true, and is more of an American phenomenon. In Japan (which also has cars) children as young as 5 or 6 are regularly sent out to run errands on their own. [1] This has nothing to do with cars, and independence comes with both risk and reward. It's not true that "any other independence is far too dangerous" and it's not "because cars." In 1969, 44% of kids walked or biked to school ([2]) and America definitely had cars back then. Granted, fewer (500 cars per 1000 people vs 800 today). [1] https://www.citylab.com/transportation/2015/09/why-are-little-kids-in-japan-so-independent/407590/ https://www.citylab.com/transportation/2015/09/why-are-littl... [2] http://guide.saferoutesinfo.org/introduction/the_decline_of_walking_and_bicycling.cfm http://guide.saferoutesinfo.org/introduction/the_decline_of_...
- dkhenry 7y ago
  You are totally ignoring the main point of the articles you linked! The reason we don't do it in america isn't because we have a lower risk tolerance, its because we built infrastructure that doesn't allow it[1],[2]. You linked to an article describing how Japanese children go out on errands for the family using public transportation and other infrastructure. They have built a community where you can get around without a car, and you have access to basic necessities interspersed with residential communities. We don't do either we build massive residential only neighborhoods with no public transportation and tens of miles of travel required to even get to a grocery store. That is a modern american development, and it prevents kids from participating because the only way we allow people to get around is via a car, and we don't let kids drive. You have robbed kids of their independence, say its impossible for things to be different and blame parents for not letting kids roam. If you want kids to roam build high density livable developments that don't require cars and it will allow kids to be independent. 1. From the article > School consolidation has lengthened the trip between home and school, and longer trips coincide with few children walking and bicycling. By increasing the distance between home and school, consolidation of schools may discourage physically active trips to school while encouraging higher levels of motor vehicle use and pollution. 2. From the other Article > In Japanese cities, people are accustomed to walking everywhere, and public transportation trumps car culture

arcticbull 7y ago

> The days of walking to school, the local playground, or a corner store are very much in the past and one of the major reasons is because we have built a car centric world where you can't walk or ride. No, they're gone because many parents don't want to let their children out of their sight because humans are terrible at balancing the tiny risk of a very serious negative outcome, and many Americans have lost all appetite for risk. What you're suggesting isn't strictly true, and is more of an American phenomenon. In Japan (which also has cars) children as young as 5 or 6 are regularly sent out to run errands on their own. [1] This has nothing to do with cars, and independence comes with both risk and reward. It's not true that "any other independence is far too dangerous" and it's not "because cars." In 1969, 44% of kids walked or biked to school ([2]) and America definitely had cars back then. Granted, fewer (500 cars per 1000 people vs 800 today). [1] https://www.citylab.com/transportation/2015/09/why-are-little-kids-in-japan-so-independent/407590/ https://www.citylab.com/transportation/2015/09/why-are-littl... [2] http://guide.saferoutesinfo.org/introduction/the_decline_of_walking_and_bicycling.cfm http://guide.saferoutesinfo.org/introduction/the_decline_of_...

dkhenry 7y ago
You are totally ignoring the main point of the articles you linked! The reason we don't do it in america isn't because we have a lower risk tolerance, its because we built infrastructure that doesn't allow it[1],[2]. You linked to an article describing how Japanese children go out on errands for the family using public transportation and other infrastructure. They have built a community where you can get around without a car, and you have access to basic necessities interspersed with residential communities. We don't do either we build massive residential only neighborhoods with no public transportation and tens of miles of travel required to even get to a grocery store. That is a modern american development, and it prevents kids from participating because the only way we allow people to get around is via a car, and we don't let kids drive. You have robbed kids of their independence, say its impossible for things to be different and blame parents for not letting kids roam. If you want kids to roam build high density livable developments that don't require cars and it will allow kids to be independent. 1. From the article > School consolidation has lengthened the trip between home and school, and longer trips coincide with few children walking and bicycling. By increasing the distance between home and school, consolidation of schools may discourage physically active trips to school while encouraging higher levels of motor vehicle use and pollution. 2. From the other Article > In Japanese cities, people are accustomed to walking everywhere, and public transportation trumps car culture