At what age do you allow your kids outside without supervision?

My 8yr old wants desperately to go around the block on his scooter, without me. He wants to go with his friend.
It's a safe enough neighborhood but I feel sick to my stomach at the very thought.
I have suggested I still go but hang back and not be so obvious but he's having none of it.
We need a compromise, or am I being over-bearing?

As a mother, I don't think you are being overbearing at all. My oldest is 8, and I have yet to allow him to go outside (much less down the street) without adult supervision. No matter how "safe" you think your neighborhood may be, you really just never know. And I'd rather be "overbearing" than to be on the 10 o'clock news pleading for someone to return my child to me.

if i need a snack really bad! about 3. i just point towards the corner store, she is so smart!

I don't let my 10 year old do that.
I'll let him play in the front yard with a friend, as long as they stay away from the street.

I'll probably let him go around the neighborhood with a group of friends when he's 12.

And to think I walked several blocks to school by myself in first grade. And used to leave the house right after breakfast on weekends, and not come back until lunch. The same for dinner,

My, how times have changed.

how about never? safe enough..........bad stuff happens everywhere. i'm a total freak about my kid (he's almost five) and i don't care what anyone says about it.