Abstract
While many developed countries have typically been facing problems related to four-wheeled traffic, developing countries are facing problems related to small motorized vehicles, such as motorcycles. However, very few studies have been conducted to the traffic operation of motorcycles in the existing literature. This study proposes the methodology to estimate the motorcycle unit (MCU) with a consideration of dynamic characteristics of moving vehicles. It expresses the relationship between speeds and occupied spaces with respect to motorcycles and other types of vehicles. A case study is introduced in order to estimate the parameters of proposed formula by using microscopic traffic data at three midblocks in Hanoi, Vietnam. Then, the proposed methodology is compared with previous methods. The results show that the proposed formula represents the best among them. The findings provide useful information that can be used to develop the speed-flow relationship, estimate highway capacity, analyze level of service, and formulate effective traffic regulation and control measures.
