I think it depends where you are. In a lot of places, parents seem to be so worried about the safety of their kids nowadays that they take them to school & pick them up until their mid-teens.
Having grown up in a small town in central Europe, I certainly walked (later cycled) to and from school (~2km), as did most colleagues that lived close enough. (the rest got the bus or train; many kids were picked up on Saturdays though) I haven't been around that school at 8am since I finished 6 years ago, so it's possible the situation has changed.
Having grown up in a small town in central Europe, I certainly walked (later cycled) to and from school (~2km), as did most colleagues that lived close enough. (the rest got the bus or train; many kids were picked up on Saturdays though) I haven't been around that school at 8am since I finished 6 years ago, so it's possible the situation has changed.