Without taking a position as to who was right or wrong in this particular
case, let me offer the following information:

In most European countries, school buses are basically unknown. Students
travel by public transportation, being issued either free or very low-cost
passes, along with their student ID.

In urban areas, that public transportation includes streetcars, buses, and
subways, but may also include regional rail services.

Yes, schools for the youngest children -- grade school -- are more widely
distributed, so that in most cases these young children do not have to travel
far. But for older children, taking public transportation is no big deal. I
spent part of the 5th grade attending school in Austria and traveled quite a
few miles daily by streetcar in Vienna. The crews got to know me, and in one
case, the crew even let me throw switches at a junction. This was all in a
highly urbanized area. (Switches were thrown by inserting a large -- several
foot-long -- device resmebling a giant screw-driver into the switch which was
set into the pavement, and snapping it into its new position. Now-days, this
is done from controls in the cab.)

However, in the countryside, the following applies: Even small towns have
their own grade school. But only the larger towns have higher level schools.
Students typically get to these schools by commuter trains or regional public
bus lines.

See the story on my Web site about a ride on a diesel rail car along the Danube:

http://www.robl.w1.com/trav-t/danube.htm

Note that the majority of passengers were school children.

-- Ernest