The EasternCapital is the largest metropolitan area in the world. Three New Jack Cities would fit into Tokyo. Central Tokyo population density is three times that of lower Manhattan.
My teenage daughter commutes into Central Tokyo daily. She has done so since first grade. On the train. By herself.
Parents of a New York City elementary school child who let their child commute to school alone would, more than likely, be subject to criminal charges, reckless conduct or something similar.
New Yorkers pay taxes to a government to keep their streets sufficiently dangerous so that they have to take time away from putting bread on the table to take their children to school. Even the big yellow bus terrifies the parents of most American children.