Commuting by motorcycle
10.69
2011
TML investigated what the effects on traffic flow and traffic emissions would be in case of a modal shift from passenger cars to motorbikes in commuter traffic. The impact was analysed by simulating the morning rush hour on the Leuven-Brussels motorway section.
The impact of a modal shift on traffic flow was studied using a case study in which traffic on the motorway section Leuven - Brussels was accurately simulated during the morning rush hour. The traffic jams on this stretch extended less because of the modal shift. Traffic jams also disappeared faster and journey times were significantly shorter. When 10% of passenger cars are replaced by motorbikes, the number of vehicle hours lost (the time lost by all vehicles combined) decreases by 40%. This calculation considered suction effects on this more attractive route.
When the results of the case study are extrapolated to the entire main road network in Belgium, 15,000 vehicle loss hours could be saved daily in Belgium, equivalent to a total time gain of about €350,000 per day.
The impact of a modal shift on emissions and emission costs was also examined using the Leuven - Brussels case study. A recent motorbike emits fewer pollutants than an average passenger car (less NOx, NO2, PM2.5, and EC, but more VOC). CO₂ emissions are also lower. The total external emission cost (the conversion of environmental burden into cost for society) of motorbikes is more than 20% lower than that of an average passenger car. On the Leuven - Brussels route, the total emission cost can be reduced by 6% if 10% of cars are replaced by motorbikes. 1% of this can be attributed to the replacement of cars by motorbikes themselves, 5% is due to smoother traffic flow.
The impact of a modal shift on traffic flow was studied using a case study in which traffic on the motorway section Leuven - Brussels was accurately simulated during the morning rush hour. The traffic jams on this stretch extended less because of the modal shift. Traffic jams also disappeared faster and journey times were significantly shorter. When 10% of passenger cars are replaced by motorbikes, the number of vehicle hours lost (the time lost by all vehicles combined) decreases by 40%. This calculation considered suction effects on this more attractive route.
When the results of the case study are extrapolated to the entire main road network in Belgium, 15,000 vehicle loss hours could be saved daily in Belgium, equivalent to a total time gain of about €350,000 per day.
The impact of a modal shift on emissions and emission costs was also examined using the Leuven - Brussels case study. A recent motorbike emits fewer pollutants than an average passenger car (less NOx, NO2, PM2.5, and EC, but more VOC). CO₂ emissions are also lower. The total external emission cost (the conversion of environmental burden into cost for society) of motorbikes is more than 20% lower than that of an average passenger car. On the Leuven - Brussels route, the total emission cost can be reduced by 6% if 10% of cars are replaced by motorbikes. 1% of this can be attributed to the replacement of cars by motorbikes themselves, 5% is due to smoother traffic flow.
