Motorcycle Mobility and Urban Transport Dynamics
Summary
Motorcycle mobility has emerged as a critical component of urban transport systems, particularly in densely populated cities across Asia, Latin America and parts of Europe. These two-wheeled vehicles offer high manoeuvrability, reduced travel times and lower per-trip costs compared with cars, making them appealing for commuters and delivery services alike. However, their proliferation has produced complex impacts on congestion, air quality, noise pollution and road safety. Recent research has sought to characterise these dynamics by modelling flow patterns, evaluating infrastructure interventions and assessing policy measures aimed at integrating motorcycles into broader sustainable-mobility frameworks. As cities pursue decarbonisation and equity goals, attention has turned to electric two-wheelers, dedicated lane treatments and behavioural shifts among riders faced with evolving regulatory landscapes. The global significance of motorcycle mobility lies in its potential both to alleviate first- and last-mile connectivity challenges and to exacerbate urban externalities if left unregulated or unsupported by complementary transport modes.
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Motorcycle Mobility and Urban Transport Dynamics publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in motorcycle mobility and urban transport dynamics across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Electric two-wheelers: Motorcycles or scooters powered by rechargeable electric motors rather than internal combustion engines, reducing local emissions and noise.
Dedicated motorcycle lanes: Traffic lanes reserved exclusively for motorcycle use, designed to streamline flow and separate vulnerable road users from larger vehicles.
Surrogate Safety Measures (SSMs): Quantitative indicators derived from traffic simulations that estimate collision risk by analysing vehicle trajectories, speeds and headways.
Micro-simulation: A traffic-modelling approach that simulates the movement and interaction of individual vehicles within a transport network to assess performance under various scenarios.
Modal shift: The transition of travellers from one mode of transport (e.g., motorcycle) to another (e.g., bus, e-bike) in response to policy, infrastructure or behavioural changes.
References
- Analysis Study of Current Transportation Status in Vietnam’s Urban Traffic and the Transition to Electric Two-Wheelers Mobility. Sustainability (2021).
- Power Two-Wheelers as an Element of Sustainable Urban Mobility in Europe. Land (2021).
- Enhancing Urban Mobility: Exploring the Potential of Exclusive Motorcycle Lane Using VISSIM. Journal of Transportation Technologies (2023).
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