Will motorcyclists use segregated lanes?

Motorcycle usage has increased over the past two decades, particularly in the Global South. In countries like Colombia, the number of motorbikes has surpassed the number of cars. At the same time, there has been a worrying rise in fatalities and injury rates among motorcyclists, primarily due to conflicts with other vehicles which have dissimilar operational characteristics. One proposal to mitigate these conflicts and enhance safer operation is the definition of dedicated lanes for motorcycles. For this purpose, it is relevant to evaluate motorcyclists’ behaviour towards the characteristics of dedicated lanes and their willingness to use them. This paper assesses the factors related to physical characteristics, traffic conditions, and perceptions of safety regarding the readiness to use or not use exclusive motorcycle lanes (EML). For this purpose, a hybrid discrete choice model was estimated using data from a stated preference survey applied to motorcyclists in Barranquilla, Colombia. The results show that the flow of vehicles in the mixed lanes and motorcyclists in the dedicated lane strongly influences the decision to use the EML. The intention to use the EML is sensitive to lane width and the provision of a physical separator. Users with higher risk perception are more likely to use the dedicated lane.