this is an interesting thread. i see lots of unaccompanied kids walking to school (from my window) each morning.

At bike safety school a few years ago, i thought i remembered the instructors saying kids need to be 12, before they ride to school alone, something to do with when peripheral vision kicks in. Maybe i remembered the wrong age.

We're near a busy main road, takes ages for me to get across in a car, and it's often a hairy experience for ME, as an adult in a car. Cannot imagine bilby navigating that, i think she'd need to walk her bike across a pedestrian crossing. So many hoons, stolen car activity around here, broken glass - punctures etc - keeping her safe is constantly on my mind (more than anywhere i've ever lived before). I drive her (and her bike) to safer neighbourhoods, just so she can ride her bike in parks and playgrounds. God, i will only be able to do that for a short time, the bigger she gets, i won't be able to put her bike in the carboot when she gets bigger. hmmm.