I guess I would have been arrested for letting my 10 yr old take my 8yr old to 7-11 on their bikes...about 1.5 miles away...
We did have the school (in california) call us once to say they did not think it was appropriate that our Grade 3 daughter to be walking the 3 blocks home, alone.
Now this is with about 200 parents other parents around, no busy streets, dad at home when she got there, and in a wealthy neighborhood with a high level of police car patrol funding. (overkill police patrols, I was stopped when out for a run early on Christmas morning too...yes officer, there is a stolen TV hidden in my yoga pants.. not!...)
Man the USA is overkill on the worry and putting blame on the victims. If there is a worry about the safety of a park, shouldn't they cut back the overhanging tree limbs and have foot patrols or volunteers there?