But I wonder if I've kinda been brainwashed into over-protecting my kids. My daughter JUST started taking public transportation by herself and she's 14. Some people think that's too loose.

We do other stuff that some parents think is too loose....but the 9 year old ain't going anywhere in our city surroundings without us. No way.

Which also brings me to this....why would I feel more comfortable about it in the suburbs? Are there less child molesters/kidnappers there? No. There's less drug-dealers and knuckleheads....but those people really don't have any interest in kids or present a threat to them. It's probably an irrational bias on my part.