Motorcycle Use Research Articles

Heterogeneity in behavioural response to pricing policies in the transition from motorcycles to private cars in motorcycle-based societies

ABSTRACT Pricing instruments are widely seen as an effective tool for reducing the travel demand for private vehicles. In contrast to developed countries, the design of pricing policies in certain developing countries is more challenging, owing to the mixed use of private cars and motorcycles. This study argues for the existence of a transitional group of motorcycle users who will switch to being car users. An investigation of the behavioural responses to a pricing policy from private car users and motorcycle users is implemented in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. A propensity score-matching technique is used to identify the transitional group. The results regarding the mode choice models for various pricing policies show similar responses between the transitional motorcycle users and car users. Such characteristics of the transitional group imply that ignorance of travellers’ heterogeneity may cause significant bias, especially when modelling pricing policies.

Effect of Push-Pull Factors on Change in Behavior of Students' Shuttle by Using Motorcycle Case Study: Gianyar - Bali

Transportation problems are caused by many factors. In addition to factors directly related to the transportation itself, such as traffic density, the availability of adequate public transportation, it is also influenced by other factors outside of transportation. The phenomenon of student shuttle activities using motorbikes is one of the causes of transportation problems. This phenomenon appears in almost all of Indonesia, including in Gianyar Regency. The frequency of these activities is influenced, among others, by the time schedule for teaching and learning at school (half day school) and the behavior and habits of the community in traffic. The habit of picking up students by motorcycle is getting stronger along with the low quality of public transportation services. Data collected from 14 junior high schools in Gianyar district showed that almost 48% of students were picked up by their parents using motorbikes. Meanwhile, 17.80% of students ride their own motorbikes for school activities. The consequences of these problems include congestion and the possibility of experiencing traffic accidents, inefficient use of time and costs and air pollution. On the other hand, the Gianyar Regency government has operated free student transportation #AMAN to serve students in 43 junior high schools, although its operations have not covered the entire region. The purpose of this study was to find how do push and pull strategies affect student's shuttle activities using motorbikes? The study was conducted in 14 junior high schools with 400 respondents from parents of students. The analytical method used is SEM-AMOS. The result of this study is that there is a fairly strong influence of the pull strategy on the willingness to move using student transportation. Meanwhile, the pull strategy has a less strong influence on behavioral changes in the use of motorcycle for student's shuttle activities.

Investigating the effects of individual attitudes and social norms on students’ intention to use motorcycles – An integrated choice and latent variable model

Exploring the intention of motorcycle use is essential not only for understanding mode choice decisions but also for implementing transportation policy aimed at suppressing motorcycle use. By employing the ordered hybrid choice model, we investigated the influencing factors of motorcycle use intention among students in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. We analyzed the latent variables of individual attitudes and social norms. In a sample of 774 junior high school students, we found that social norms played a significant role in the students’ intention to use motorcycles, where close friends and school peers were primary determinants for the respondents. Accruing the advantages of using a motorcycle, including the convenience of being able to travel anytime and anywhere and pursuing a status symbol as a motorcyclist, also influenced students’ intentions to use motorcycles once they turned 16 years old. The results also show that male students, students with less daily pocket money, and students in multi-motorcycle households are more motivated to be future motorcyclists. We propose policies such as motorcycle use restrictions, parental monitoring programs, and awareness-raising campaigns discouraging future motorcycle use among students.

The duality of urban mobility as a heterogeneous phenomenon in the construction of sustainable living space in cities: a look at the inference of poverty in the city of Campina Grande, Brazil

The use of statistical and geo-referenced tools helps to explain the differentiation of urban mobility given the pre-existing urban configuration in cities. The city of Campina Grande-PB, object of this study, is characterized by the prevalence of dualist elements such as the growing demographic explosion and the new layout of urban strata in terms of the smart cities concept. That said, the analysis on screen comprises the existing mobility system, demonstrating how the current space influences the potential of movement in different social strata through the Theory of Spatial Syntax. The research used the Geographic Information System-GIS, processed through Depthmap® and QGIS, in the production of spatial syntactic measures in neighborhoods combined with socioeconomic variables. In this study, it was concluded that the method identified in central areas, with a high concentration of middle and high income, a format more conducive to car use, while in neighborhoods with a higher concentration of vulnerable population, a system that favors the walkability and the use of bicycles and motorcycles. The public transport system presented a more efficient coverage, as it presents itself as a restrictive factor in the circular causation of local poverty, although it has the potential to be a driver of local economic dynamism to favor increased income in the most vulnerable and segregated locations spatially.

Trends in motorcycle accident mortality in Lagos: Consequences of government policy changes.

Background: Motorcycle use is associated with fatal crashes. The government of Lagos State, Nigeria has introduced legislation and policies to address this issue. Aim: To examine trends in motorcycle accident mortality in Lagos over a 10-year period (January 2010 - December 2019) and consider the impact of transportation legislation and policy changes on deaths from motorcycle accidents during that period. Method: A retrospective analysis of all autopsies performed on decedents from motorcycle crashes between January 2010 and December 2019. Results: There were 211 cases of motorcycle accident-related deaths. Most victims were males (89.1%), the peak age was 31-40 years (30.8%), and majority were riders and pillion passengers (39.8% each). Head injury (51.6%) was the most common injury and cause of death. There was a general decline in case numbers from 2010 to 2019. Following new legislation that introduced a motorcycle hailing service between 2017 and 2019, there was a 17.4% reduction in fatalities from accidents. Conclusion: There has been a general downward trend in fatal motorcycle accidents in Lagos from 2010 to 2019. Changes in government transportation policies have likely had consequences on motorcycle accident-related mortality.

Analysis of Transport and Vehicular Crash Cases Using the Online National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (ONEISS) from 2010 to 2019

Introduction. Around 1.35 million people die due to road traffic accidents yearly. In the Philippines, there is an increasing trend of mortality and morbidity caused by road crashes.
 Objective. The objective of the study is to show the epidemiology of transport and vehicular crash (TVC) cases in the Philippines using the Department of Health (DOH) Online National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (ONEISS) from 2010 to 2019.
 Methods. We used data from ONEISS, a web-based system to electronically capture injury-related data from health facilities, store data in a centralized and secure location, process and consolidate data, and transform this data into meaningful information. For Transport and Vehicular Crash cases, risk factors such as drug use, alcohol use, mobile phone use, seatbelt, and helmet use are included. There are also data on vehicle type, place of crash, and activity. Descriptive and inferential statistics were computed to explore and analyze the ONEISS dataset, particularly the epidemiology of transport and vehicular crashes (TVC).
 Results. There were a total of 296,760/894,989 (31%) patients admitted due to transport and vehicular crash (TVC) based on the 10-year data from ONEISS (2010–2019). There was an increasing trend in the number of transport/ vehicular crashes (TVC) during this period, with an average increase of 25.58% cases per year. Most victims were drivers (45.6%), males (72.5%), and from the younger age group (0-30 years old). Fatal crashes were observed to occur from 6:00 pm to 5:00 am while most accidents occurred during leisure activities (32.5%). The highest reported contributing factor was drunk driving (n = 25,537). There was observed low compliance on the use of vehicular safety equipment. The most common types of injuries for the TVC victims were abrasions, contusions, burns, and concussions while the vehicle most involved in TVC was the motorcycle. Motorcycle use was found to be associated with worse emergency room (ER) outcomes (p <.0001) and the highest injury types such as multiple injuries, abrasion, avulsion and burn. Alcohol use was also significantly associated with multiple injuries, abrasion, avulsion, burn, open fracture, open wound, and amputation (p < 0.05).
 Conclusion. The trend of road traffic vehicular crashes affecting mainly the younger population has economic repercussions. Motorcycles are also most involved in crashes, hence, the need for motorcycle safety laws in the country. There is also a need to strengthen current laws and legislation governing road safety and to focus on structuring a systematic post-crash response for both the local government and hospitals throughout the Philippines.

Stakeholders’ Perceptions on the Performance of Motorcycle Riding Business in Nyamagana District

This study sought to examine stakeholder practices in the Nyamagana district motorcycle riding business. This study used a case study research design with a sample size of 93. In-depth interviews and questionnaires were utilized to collect data, and SPSS was used to analyze it. The findings indicated activities such as using various advertising strategies, raising awareness, forming a motorbike driver's association, offering inexpensive service costs, holding seminars, and safety. The results of correlation analysis revealed a significant relationship between promotion strategy (r (90) > -.293 p.005), awareness about the use of motorcycle as a business (r (90) >.154 p048), association of motorcycle drivers (r (90) > -1.12p.295), affordable price (r (90) >.098p.358), and seminar and safety education (r (90) > -.307 p.003). Motorcycles are promoted by government authorities as an easy and quick way to get licensed and insured. There were other concerns including complicated registration, tax compliance, motorcycle driver theft, careless driving, poor personal cleanliness, inadequate passenger safety gear, and traffic issues. The report advocated clear mechanisms for motorcycle business operators to undertake their activities without interference by extraneous authorities, improved working conditions, and regular training and seminars for motorcycle drivers and operators.

Factors associated with head injury among survivors of motorcycle crashes: a case-control study in northern Ghana.

the increasing use of motorcycles in northern Ghana is associated with a high incidence of motorcycle crashes and resultant head injuries. This study sought to determine factors associated with head injuries among survivors of motorcycle crashes in northern Ghana. a prospective unmatched case-control study was conducted at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH). A total of 326 cases (victims who suffered a head injury with or without other injuries) and 294 controls (persons who suffered various injuries except for head injury) from motorcycle crashes were consecutively sampled at TTH from December 15, 2019, to May 15, 2020. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to interview patients in addition to medical records review. Factors associated with head injury were examined using multivariable logistic regression at p<0.05 and a 95% confidence interval. the prevalence of head injury was 53.03% among of 660 survivors of motorcycle crashes. The majority of the patients were young males aged 15-44 years. The rate of helmet use was lower in cases (12.88%) than in controls (57.82%) (p<0.001). Factors associated with head injury were not wearing helmet (AOR= 9.80, 95% CI: 6.22, 15.43), male (AOR=1.75, 95% CI: 1.07, 2.85), student (AOR=0.38, 95% CI: 0.16, 0.91), and alcohol use within 24 hours (AOR=0.17, 95% CI: 0.04, 0.70). non-use of helmet and male gender significantly increased the risk of head injury risk in this study. Alcohol use and being a student were associated with lower odds of head injuries. Motorcycle safety efforts in the study area should emphasize helmet promotion.

Does the Metro Reduce Motorcycle Use? Difference-in-Differences and Propensity Score Matching Analyses of the Taipei Metropolitan Area, Taiwan

Does the Metro Reduce Motorcycle Use? Difference-in-Differences and Propensity Score Matching Analyses of the Taipei Metropolitan Area, Taiwan

Understanding the Factors That Are Associated with Motorcycle Crash Severity in Rural and Urban Areas of Ghana

Like many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Ghana has witnessed an increase in the use of motorcycles for both commercial transport and private transport of people and goods. The rapid rise in commercial motorcycle activities has been attributed to the problem of urban traffic congestion and the general lack of reliable and affordable public transport in rural areas. This study investigates and compares factors that are associated with motorcycle crash injury outcomes in rural and urban areas of Ghana. This comparison is particularly important because the commercial use of motorcycles and their rapid growth in urban areas are a new phenomenon, in contrast to rural areas where people have long relied on motorcycles for their transportation needs. Preliminary analysis of the crash data revealed that more of the rural area crashes occurred under dark and unlit roadway conditions, while urban areas recorded more intersection-related crashes. Additionally, it was found that more pedestrian collisions happened in urban areas, while head-on collisions happened more in rural areas. The model estimation results show that collisions with a pedestrian, run-off-road, and collisions that occur under dark and unlit roadway conditions were more likely to result in fatal injury. Findings from this study are expected to help in crafting and targeting appropriate countermeasures to effectively reduce the occurrence and severity of motorcycle crashes throughout the country and, indeed, sub-Saharan Africa.

Investigation of Motorcycle Trajectories in 2-lane Horizontal Curves

Most of the road design guidelines assume that the vehicles traverse a trajectory that coincides with the midline of the traffic lane. Based on this assumption the thresholds of various features are determined such as the maximum permissible side friction factor. It is therefore important to investigate the extent to which the trajectory of the vehicles is similar to the horizontal alignment of the road or substantial differences exist. To this end, a naturalistic riding study was designed and executed with the use of an instrumented motorcycle which measured the position of the motorcycle with great accuracy in a rural 2-lane road segment. The derived trajectories were then plotted against the horizontal alignment of the road and compared with the 3 consecutive elements which form a typical horizontal curve i.e., the entering spiral curve, the circular curve, and the exiting spiral curve. Linear equations were developed which correlate the traveled curvatures with the distance of each horizontal curve along the road segment under investigation. The process of the data revealed that the riders differ their trajectory compared to the alignment of the road. However, in small radius horizontal curves is more likely to observe curvatures that are similar to the geometric one. Moreover, the riders perform more abrupt maneuvres in the first part of the horizontal curves while they straighten the handlebars of the motorcycle before the end of the curve. The present paper aims to shed light on the behavior of motorcycle riders on horizontal curves and hence to contribute to the reduction of motorcycle accidents, particularly the single-vehicle ones.

Safeguarding motorcyclists: Trialing new PRIME road markings for casualty reduction

Dedicated road markings for motorcyclists were installed on the approach to demanding bends at 10 sites across the West Highlands of Scotland. These road markings were designed as Perceptual Rider Information for Maximising Expertise and Enjoyment (PRIMEs) which presented a series of ‘gateway’ markings to encourage safer riding. Video data were collected to measure motorcycle speed, position, braking and use of the road markings, before and after the PRIMEs were installed. A total of 12,949 motorcyclists were observed. Speed reductions were observed across four of the 10 sites, changes in lateral position at the final PRIME gateway marking and apex of the bend were observed across all 10 sites and seven sites respectively; reduced braking was observed at two sites and there was an increase in the use of PRIME road markings across eight of the 10 sites. These findings are discussed in relation to the ‘Safe System’ approach to improving motorcycle safety.

Etude Des Facteurs De La Récurrence Des Accidents De Circulation Impliquant Des Motos A Bouaké

In Ivory Coast, the motorcycle taxi phenomenon was imposed by the armed rebellion of September 2002 in the CNO zones. From there, the use of motorcycles will particularly develop in the commune of Bouaké to the detriment of the usual means of transport, in particular city taxis and minicars or "gbaka". In this city of Bouaké, the numerous accidents recorded daily are attributed to the motorcycle taxi which ensures the movement of populations in the different districts of the commune. The explanatory factors for the recurrence of traffic accidents involving motorcycles in Bouaké are multiple. We mainly identify the lack of driver training, ignorance of the highway code and road safety rules, incivism during checks by law enforcement and the municipality, the use of drugs and the degradation of roads.

Drinking and Night-Time Driving May Increase the Risk of Severe Health Outcomes: A 5-Year Retrospective Study of Traffic Injuries among International Travelers at a University Hospital Emergency Center in Thailand.

Road traffic injury (RTI) is a leading cause of death in developing countries. This burden affects not only locals, but also international travelers. Data on international travelers with RTIs in Thailand, especially from a medical perspective, are limited. This study aimed to analyze the factors associated with severe health outcomes following RTIs among international travelers at a university hospital emergency center in Thailand from January 2015 to December 2019. The retrieved data consisted of demographics, risks, preventive factors, and health outcomes. The severity of outcome was classified as fatality, hospitalization, or non-severe. A multinomial logistic regression model was used to identify the possible determinants of severity of health outcome among international travelers with RTI. A total of 720 travelers with RTIs (69% males; 82.5% were Southeast Asian) were included, with a mean age of 28.5 years. Of these, 144 (20%) had severe health outcomes: 64 (9%) fatalities and 80 (11%) hospitalizations. The level of severity of outcome was not associated with travelers’ demographics, but was associated with conventional risk factors, i.e., motorcycle use, alcohol/drug use, night-time driving, and less use of seatbelt/helmet. In a multinomial logistic regression analysis, alcohol drinking (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 2.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.41–4.55) and night-time driving (AOR 2.54, 95% CI 1.36–4.75) were associated with hospitalization. Patients who had a history of tetanus vaccination were less likely to die (AOR 0.37, 95% CI 0.17–0.81). In conclusion, one-fifth of RTIs resulted in severe health outcomes, and 9% were fatal. Road safety campaigns in Thailand should target travelers of all nationalities. Interventions that enhance travelers’ safety practices and proper preparation for road accidents should be explored further.

Exploring the spatio-temporal dynamics of moped-style scooter sharing services in urban areas

Spain is one of the countries with the highest shared mobility fleet in the world. The shared use of motorcycles, also known as moped-style scooter sharing, has spread far and wide throughout the country at a dramatic pace in recent years. Despite its increasing popularity and impact on urban mobility, efforts devoted to the study of its spatio-temporal travel patterns are still scant. Based on the analysis of GPS records of an operator present in seven Spanish cities, this study aims to contribute to this research gap by analysing mopeds' location patterns over time and assessing how different dynamics influence its usage level and self-balance potential. Our study is replicable to different cities and different shared modes, since we propose a methodology to identify the most important origins and destinations over time and analyse the system's self-balance capacity based on spatial autocorrelation tools. These insights are useful for operators to adjust and optimise vehicle distribution routes and maintenance/recharge tasks, decreasing congestion and increasing efficiency. The results may also be helpful for policy makers when planning and offering effective policies and infrastructure to encourage shared mobility.

Nudging adoption of electric vehicles: Evidence from an information-based intervention in Nepal

Addressing hazardous levels of air pollution in densely populated cities in emerging countries requires concerted efforts to reduce fossil fuel use in the transport sector, such as through greater use of electric motorcycles. However, their adoption has been limited due to several market failures and behavioral anomalies. In this study, we collect novel data on more than 2,000 potential motorcycle buyers in Kathmandu, Nepal. Using randomization, we evaluate the effects of informational nudges on their stated choice to buy an electric motorcycle. We find evidence to suggest that our interventions play a role in determining the stated preference of respondents. Furthermore, results also hint at the importance of gender, health status and education in determining the effectiveness of these nudges. Implications of this study relate to policy choice in cities in developing countries, where fuel-inefficient vehicles are used widely, and the negative externalities due to air pollution are stark.

The Efficiency of Motorcycle Use in Illegal Bushmeat Transportation in Western Serengeti, Tanzania

Bushmeat is an important source of protein, as well as economic income for communities in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. This study was conducted in north-western Serengeti, Tanzania, from July to September of 2019. Two villages were sampled for distance calculation: Kowak and Robanda. The snowballing technique was the sampling design adopted. Trained assistants identified at least one bushmeat vendor in each village to be interviewed, who was thereafter asked to identify another vendor known to him/her. The number of days spent delivering bushmeat packages to the illegal market (an average of 200 km) from the bushmeat source was 16.8 days when using donkeys, 6.8 days when using bicycles, and 2.0 days when using motorcycles. Motorcycles were 8.4 and 3.4 times more efficient than donkeys and bicycles, respectively. Bicycles were 2.5 times more efficient than donkeys. The mean weights of bushmeat packages delivered by donkeys were 188.4 kg and 109.0 kg when using bicycles. Motorcycles delivered 185.0 kg of bushmeat per trip. The mean weights carried by donkeys and motorcycles were 1.7 times higher than those of bicycles. The mean depletion rates of motorcycles were 92.5 kg of bushmeat per day for a distance of 200 km. Bicycles depleted 16.0 kg, while donkeys only depleted 11.2 kg per day to the market. The use of motorcycles in bushmeat transportation increased the efficiency in delivering illegal bushmeat to predetermined illegal markets, and thus resulted in a high depletion rate. Wildlife authorities should introduce patrol systems that include the control of motorcycles close to protected areas. There should be day and night checkpoints in various places, such as large bridges that cannot be avoided and along rural pathways.

Paediatric off-road vehicle injury in rural and regional Australia.

Off-road riding of quad bikes and motorcycles is common among children across rural and remote Australia, but is a significant source of injury and hospitalisation. An in-depth analysis of paediatric off-road vehicle crashes was undertaken to inform injury prevention countermeasures by characterising injury patterns and sources of injury. This is a prospective in-depth case series. Participants are children aged 16 and under who have been hospitalised due to injury sustained from the use of an off-road motorcycle or quad bike in New South Wales, Australia. Crash investigation techniques (medical data, structured interview, vehicle and crash site inspection) were used to ascertain details of the crash event, protective gear, injury information and contributory factors. Thirty children were recruited, 27 boys and 3 girls, ranging in age from 4 to 16years, having crashed on off-road motorcycles (n=27) or quads (n=3). Most (73.3%) were participating in unstructured social riding. A total of 67 separate injuries were observed, with overall Injury Severity Scores between 1 and 35. There were high rates of wearing helmets and motorcycle-specific garments. The most commonly injured areas were the upper and lower extremities. The most common sources of injury were from impacting the ground, obstacles/other riders or the vehicle. This study demonstrates the patterns of riding and injury in rural paediatric off-road vehicle riders, occurring despite high rates of helmet/protective gear use. This underscores the need for investigation into the injury mitigation and fit properties of protective gear and the inherent risks for physically and developmentally maturing children.

Speed Models for Motorcycle Riders for Two-lane Rural Roads

The development of operating speed models has been the subject of numerous research studies in the past. Most of them present models that aim to predict free-flow speed in conjunction with the road geometry at the curved road sections considering various geometric parameters e.g., radius, length, preceding tangent, deflection angle. The developed models seldomly take into account the operating speed profiles of motorcycle riders and hence no significant efforts have been put so far to associate the geometric characteristics of a road segment with the speed behavior of motorcycle riders. The dominance of 4-wheel vehicles on the road network led the researchers to focus explicitly on the development of speed prediction models for passenger cars, vans, pickups, and trucks. However, although the motorcycle fleet represents only a small proportion of the total traffic volume motorcycle riders are over-represented in traffic accidents especially those that occur on horizontal curves. Since operating speed has been thoroughly documented as the most significant precipitating factor of vehicular accidents, the study of motorcycle rider's speed behavior approaching horizontal curves is of paramount importance. The subject of the present paper is the development of speed prediction models for motorcycle riders traveling on two-lane rural roads. The model was the result of the execution of field measurements under naturalistic conditions with the use of an instrumented motorcycle conducted by experienced motorcycle riders under different lighting conditions. The implemented methodology to determine the most efficient model evaluates a series of road geometry parameters through a comprehensive literature review excluding those with an insignificant impact to the magnitude of the operating speeds in order to establish simple and handy models.

Prevalence and distribution of maxillofacial trauma in tertiary care centers before/ after motorcycle helmet use law in Sullia, India-A retrospective study.

In India, motorcycles are commonly involved in accidents and traffic rules negligence, most of which include some type of maxillofacial trauma. In September 2019, the rules for motorcycle and helmet use were modified to compulsory use in the state of Karnataka. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of mandatory helmet use on maxillofacial fractures and injuries in Sullia Taluk, Karnataka. The study was based on the information obtained from clinical records in the K.V.G Dental College and the K.V.G Medical College from February 2019 to February 2020. The inclusion criteria were subjects who met with two-wheeler accidents with complete case records and radiological investigations. A total of 78 individuals reported with maxillofacial trauma from February 2019 to February 2020. The mean age was 31±14years. There were 74 (94%) males and 4 (6%) females. Forty-nine cases reported before the mandatory helmet use rule and 29 cases reported after the helmet use rule. There was a 36.3% decrease in the incidence of maxillofacial trauma, 23.5% decrease in fractures, and an 89% reduction in the number of victims who underwent open reduction and internal fixation during the post-law period. There was a significant reduction in the incidence and severity of maxillofacial trauma after the implementation of the helmet rule.