Much attention is being paid to the analysis of factors contributing to the travel mode choice
behavior of children for the trip to and from school (1). Major programs aimed at promoting
walking and bicycling to school are in place, particularly in the United States, where a steady
decline in the shares of walk and bicycle modes for school trips has been observed over the past
few decades (2-4). Examples of these programs include the US Department of Transportation
Safe Routes to School program (http://www.saferoutesinfo.org) and the Walking School Bus
initiative (http://www.walkingschoolbus.org). Much of this interest stems from the desire to
promote active transportation mode use among children with a view that the choice of such
modes would substantially help fight childhood obesity, which has become a serious public
health concern in the United States and elsewhere (5). Several studies have shown that children
who use active modes of transportation for the trip to and from school are likely to be more
physically active during other periods of the day as well, thus increasing the overall physical and
mental well-being of children (6-7)