In Japan kids as young as elementary regularly walk by themselves to school, stores, ride the train, go hang out with friends, etc. Doubt it would ever work in the US because everywhere is just plain dangerous, among other reasons.
As a recent father I'm still pondering what I should do. I used to take trips to town on my own as young as eight and I soon gained a strong sense of independence which I value. But that was in New Zealand where what they call a city isn't remotely comparable to a metropolis like Tokyo. Safety wouldn't be a concern but it would be easy to get lost for hours.
I see kids by themselves on bikes all the time where I live in Tokyo.
Or maybe things aren’t more dangerous. I’m not sure, I just know violent crime has been trending down for 25 years and the news is increasingly sensationalist and negative.
To at least some degree, I feel like there is some self fulfilling paranoia.
People here in Singapore sometimes leave their wallets or phones on tables in food courts to reserve them. Unlocked bikes don't get stolen, either.
(Our police here in Singapore sometimes runs awareness campaigns on pickpocketing with the slogan "low crime doesn't mean no crime" to get people to watch out. It's not really necessary, though.)
When I was in Chiang Mai in Thailand last year, the locals also left stuff around and didn't seem particularly worried about petty theft.
What do you mean by this?