If your (ASD) kid was bullied at school and wanted to stay well away from the area after they left, would you force them to go back? To "get back on the horse". If lots of people lived round the school and they were scared of running into them? I.e. if there were two options: to take a longer way and avoid the area or just to go straight through it.
Personal enquiry, no bitterness because it's been sorted out (compromise!), just curious.