I took a bus home from school a couple of times a week (when my mum's commute didn't take her past my school) from age 11 or so. It was great. Since it wasn't

I took a bus home from school a couple of times a week (when my mum's commute didn't take her past my school) from age 11 or so. It was great. Since it wasn't a school bus, it was easy to wander round the shops or the park etc and take the bus 10 or 20 minutes later.