The Impact of Traffic Information Provision and Prevailing Policy on the Route Choice Behavior of Motorcycles Based on the Stated Preference Experiment: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

It is anticipated that the prevalence of motorcycles in Asian countries will continue to increase, causing congestion and network imbalances concerning the nature of motorcycles. Literature demonstrates Variable Message Signs (VMSs) as an effective measure for addressing this issue. Understanding route choice behavior may thus aid in determining the appropriate traffic information to broadcast. This study aims to identify the impact of VMS messages related to traffic conditions and regulations on the route choice of motorcycle riders. In this instance, the core concept of ramp metering is adapted for non-highways to manage the proportion of motorcycles entering the traffic stream of the mainline. Two predetermined routes were offered through a stated preference survey to capture the responses to VMS. A binary logit model was initially introduced, further improved by including the individual characteristics and accommodating the unobserved factors across a series of observations (panel effects) by applying the mixed binary logit. It was revealed that traffic flow conditions significantly affect route preference; therefore, motorcycles tend to choose routes with lower volumes. However, waiting time at a ramp meter has no impact. The present research is a preliminary investigation for further implications in proposing traffic management strategies under mixed traffic situations.