Deciphering motorcyclists' decision-making: influence of variable message signs on route preferences

Abstract

Motorcycles, popular in developing countries for their flexibility and affordability, often exacerbate traffic issues like congestion in mixed-traffic settings. This study investigates motorcyclists' route choice behaviour under the variable message sign environment to foster more balanced and efficient network usage, leveraging traffic information for better-informed decisions. It also explores the potential of ramp metering in urban areas. A stated preference survey was undertaken to collect the behavioural responses, while a discrete choice model was applied to perform the estimation. The mixed path-size logit model outperformed the standard logit, revealing preferences for shorter distances, wider roads, less traffic, lower travel times, and minimum ramp metering waiting times. Those who use motorcycles for work purposes favour shortcuts for time efficiency, while individuals over 50 tend to avoid them for safety concerns. This study led to an enhanced understanding of motorcyclists' reactions to traffic information and regulations, aiding effective traffic management strategy development.