I grew up in the suburbs of Western MA.

In 1980 at 5 years old, I was walking 5 blocks to school and back.

By 1983, after school I was walking 2+ miles in the OTHER direction after school to one of my parent's businesses, which included traversing the center of a town of ~25k people.

1984, I was riding my bike 2.5 miles to my little league game, another 2.5mi afterward to get ice cream with the team, and ANOTHER 2.5mi after that to get home, usually well after dark on a BMX bike with no lights and no helmet. The 2nd and 3rd legs had to go through the center of town as well.

By the time high school rolled around, instead of taking the bus I would bike 7 miles to school in a neighboring town, followed by another 2.5mi after school to the other parent's business to work. Bike would then be tossed in the back of the van for the ride home. It was also nothing to take 15-20 mile rides without a second thought.