I walked to school on my own too in the 1970’s in PA. It was about 3/4 of a mile each way.
Walked lots of places, or rode my bike.
I was often miles from home on my own, as were all the other neighborhood kids.
Later on when I was riding a school bus, I stood outside and waited by myself for the bus. That’s not allowed anymore either.
In Kansas City two depraved men took a girl waiting alone in front of her house for the school bus. They did unspeakable things and then murdered her. My kid never waited alone for the bus. You just can’t do it anymore.