Here 8 year olds still do. I said 10 above, because that's the age at which we start secondary school, and primary school is usually in walking distance, so no public transport would be involved.

I have met a mother who was afraid of trusting a public bus with her tiny little boy (of 14) and preferred to drive him herself, though. (She trusted the boy to know how to use the bus just fine, but not the driver to know how to drive ...)