Indeed. Sure some 8 or 9 year olds can get themselves to and from school even without a school bus, but certainly by the time you hit 11 or 12 it's more likely they transport themselves than be chauffeured around

There's a reason that age is called "young adult" . Only helicopter parents can't handle the idea of a 13 year old not being okay on their own for an hour or so after they head out to work. I was riding my bike to school at 9 and I survived, kids haven't changed that much in 15 years. Obviously there are exceptions like for special needs children, but those are pretty rare.

And are fully capable of walking, riding bikes, or waiting for the bus on their own. The permanent infantilization of America is fucking insane and dangerous.

I wouldn't say "nothing to do with parents." But kids in that age range can do quite a few things on their own. I was in college in a different city at 16.

The idea that just because you’re a minor you can’t take a bus, a bus specifically for children, in fact, is ludicrous. Can’t coddle kids forever. Except for special needs people should be able to do basic things by themselves at age 13, earlier in most cases.

If your 14 year old is not capable of sorting themselves out for a couple of hours you've failed as a parent, and your idea that a 17 year old needs a parent to wipe their bottom is hilarious?!

Do you think something magically happens on their 18th birthday?