In the USA (and perhaps Canada), yes, but it's not illegal here in the UK (inferred since the British Oxford has a Cowley Road, which is a busy radial route).

The advice given to children here is "don't cross at the front of a bus, always behind it". That and "look right, left, and right again".

The bus was stopped on the other side of the road, the children disembarked, went to the back of the bus, and crossed.