Impact traffic jam filtering motorcyclists
22021
From 2022 to 2023
TML analysed the mobility impacts of allowing congestion filtering for motorcyclists in Luxembourg, at the request of the Ministère de la Mobilité et des Travaux Publics. We used camera data and congestion models to quantify journey time gains for motorcyclists and other road users and simulated the impact based on the current traffic situation.
In Luxembourg, motorcyclists are not allowed to filter between two lanes of traffic in the event of a traffic jam. Belgium and the Netherlands do have a legislative framework for this, which allows motorcyclists to move more smoothly in a traffic jam than the rest of the traffic. The Ministère de la Mobilité et des Travaux Publics Luxembourg requested policy advice on the mobility and road safety effects of allowing traffic jam filtering for motorcyclists.
In this study, TML analysed the mobility effects of traffic jam filtering. Based on available measurements from cameras along Luxembourg motorways, we quantified journey time gains for motorcyclists as well as car and truck traffic. For this purpose, we chose two congestion bottlenecks and modelled a congestion function for these points. We thus obtained a relationship between traffic volumes and speeds on certain road segments. Based on thorough data analysis, we mapped the current situation to simulate the impact of congestion filtering.
We showed that if motorcyclists are allowed to filter traffic jams, they are faster and thus realise time gains. To a more limited extent, other road users also experience time gains. Due to the lower time cost, slightly more people will choose motorbikes for their travel, generating an additional mobility effect. We estimate the economic value of these mobility effects to be around 1 million euros per year.
In Luxembourg, motorcyclists are not allowed to filter between two lanes of traffic in the event of a traffic jam. Belgium and the Netherlands do have a legislative framework for this, which allows motorcyclists to move more smoothly in a traffic jam than the rest of the traffic. The Ministère de la Mobilité et des Travaux Publics Luxembourg requested policy advice on the mobility and road safety effects of allowing traffic jam filtering for motorcyclists.
In this study, TML analysed the mobility effects of traffic jam filtering. Based on available measurements from cameras along Luxembourg motorways, we quantified journey time gains for motorcyclists as well as car and truck traffic. For this purpose, we chose two congestion bottlenecks and modelled a congestion function for these points. We thus obtained a relationship between traffic volumes and speeds on certain road segments. Based on thorough data analysis, we mapped the current situation to simulate the impact of congestion filtering.
We showed that if motorcyclists are allowed to filter traffic jams, they are faster and thus realise time gains. To a more limited extent, other road users also experience time gains. Due to the lower time cost, slightly more people will choose motorbikes for their travel, generating an additional mobility effect. We estimate the economic value of these mobility effects to be around 1 million euros per year.
