I support this father's notion of teaching kids independence.
I'm much older than the dad (and obviously his kids) and I rode the bus on my own when I was 8 years old.  
Realizing that was the "olden days". 
Important to teach kids street smarts, which I fortunately had.
I survived and more.

My situation was not unusual - but that was "back then" .   
Times have changed and in reading this, I'm not sure this overprotective fear-based thinking is moving us forward.