Establishing speed–flow–density relationships for exclusive motorcycle lanes

Abstract

The motorcycle is a popular mode of transport in Malaysia and developing Asian countries, but its significant representation in the traffic mix results in high rates of motorcycle accidents. As a result, the Malaysian Government decided to segregate motorcycle traffic along its new federal roads as an engineering approach to reduce accidents. However, traffic engineers needed to know the maximum traffic a motorcycle lane could accommodate. Despite substantial literature related to speedÁflowÁdensity relationships and capacities of various transport facilities, there is a knowledge gap regarding motorcycle lanes. This paper establishes motorcycle speedÁflowÁdensity relationships and capacities of exclusive motorcycle lanes in Malaysia. Observations of motorcycle flows and speeds were conducted along existing and experimental motorcycle lanes. Motorcycle speedÁdensity data were aggregated and plotted for two types of observable motorcycle riding behaviour patterns that were influenced by the widths of a motorcycle lane: the headway pattern (lane width 5 1.7 m) and the space pattern (lane width ! 1.7 m). For both riding patterns, regression analysis of motorcycle speedÁdensity data best fits the logarithmic model and consequently the motorcycle flowÁdensity and speedÁflow models are derived. Motorcycle lane capacities for headway and space riding patterns are estimated as 3300 mc/hr/lane and 2200 mc/hr/m, respectively.

Microscopic Simulation Model for Motorcycle Dominated Networks: A Case Study of a VISSIM Simulation Model for a Mixed Traffic Corridor

“…Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is a suitable case study for this study because the characteristics of the transport system in Hanoi are representative of many cities in low-and medium-income countries, particularly in South East Asia where motorcycles are dominant and most of them are small and medium-sized one (less than 150 cm 3 engine). Indeed, small-and medium-sized motorcycles (less than 150 cm 3 engine) represented 99% of all motorcycles in Malaysia [17]. Moreover, the transport characteristic in Yogyakarta, Indonesia is mixed traffic and overloaded on some road links.…”

A comparative economic assessment of urban transport infrastructure options in low- and middle-income countries

“…Secondly, two-wheel vehicles with an internal combustion engine having a cylinder capacity of more than 50 cm 3 if of the internal combustion type and/or having a maximum design speed of more than 45 km/h. Motorcycles with small engines ranging from 100 to 150 cm 3 are especially popular in developing Asian countries, such as Taiwan (Chang and Yeh, 2006), Malaysia (Hussain, Radin Umar and Ahmad Farhan, 2011) and Vietnam (Bray and Holyoak, 2015).…”

“…Thirdly, Underwood (1961) suggested an exponential model of speed-density. This model seems to be reasonable at low densities, but can be unreliable because the speed can asymptotically approach zero without ever reaching it (cited in the study of Hussain, Radin Umar and Ahmad Farhan (2011)).…”

“…Furthermore, due to the low socioeconomic status of its people and relatively poor public transport services, especially in busy urban areas, motorcycle riding is an alternative and cheaper mode of transport which provides the freedom of door-to-door travel in countries such as Malaysia and other developing Asian countries. The small-and mediumsized motorcycles (less than 150 cm 3 engine) represented 99% of all motorcycles in Malaysia (Hussain, Radin Umar and Ahmad Farhan, 2011). Moreover, the transport characteristic in Yogyakarty, Indonesia is mixed traffic and overloaded on some road links.…”

“…motorcycles. A few research have studied on the speed-flow relationship of motorcycle for exclusive motorcycle road and mixed traffic Hussain, Radin Umar and Ahmad Farhan (2011). established motorcycle speed-flow-density relationships and capacities of exclusive motorcycle lanes in Malaysia, where motorcycles account for 47% of the total vehicles.…”