Modeling traffic flow dominated by motorcycles based on discrete choice approach

Abstract

This study aims to develop a microscopic model depicting the traffic flow dominated by motorcycles, where motorcycles and passenger cars are mutually mixed. In the model, both behaviors of motorcycles and passenger cars are modeled respectively to represent the interaction between them. Concretely, the non-lane based discrete choice approach developed by Robin et al. is applied to the both behavior models because of the following reasons; (i) in the traffic flow dominated by motorcycles no vehicles follow the lane markings or in the most case the lane markings are worn-out, (ii) the discrete choice approach can represent the highly flexible movement and (iii) the approach can capture the characteristics of the driverÕs perception of surrounding traffic situation appropriately. Finally, the developed model is validated from both aspects of the consistency of the estimated parameters and the accuracy of the estimated trajectory based on the vehicle trajectory data observed at a downstream section of an intersection in Hanoi. The robustness of the estimated parameters is also examined.