UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA

MOHAMMAD RASOOL AHMAD RAJABI

FK 2012 40

DETERMINATION OF IDEAL WIDTH FOR EXCLUSIVE MOTORCYCLE LANE ALONG THE STRAIGHT SECTION OF FEDERAL HIGHWAY,

SELANGOR, MALAYSIA

DETERMINATION OF IDEAL WIDTH FOR EXCLUSIVE MOTORCYCLE LANE ALONG THE STRAIGHT SECTION OF FEDERAL HIGHWAY,

SELANGOR, MALAYSIA

BY

MOHAMMAD RASOOL AHMAD RAJABI

Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, in Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of

Science

May 2012

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Abstract of thesis presented to the Senate of Universiti Putra Malaysia in fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science

DETERMINATION OF IDEAL WIDTH FOR EXCLUSIVE MOTORCYCLE LANE ALONG THE STRAIGHT SECTION OF FEDERAL HIGHWAY,

SELANGOR, MALAYSIA

By

MOHAMMAD RASOOL AHMAD RAJABI

May 2012

Supervisor: HUSSAIN B HAMID, PhD

Faculty: Engineering

In the design of roadway, factors such as lane width, lateral clearance,

vertical and horizontal alignment affects the capacity and Level-Of-Service

(LOS). Ideal lane width is the upper limit range of width in which optimum

capacity is achieved. There are numerous studies and literature available on

the design of bicycle facilities. However, there are limited literature and

studies about design of motorcycle facilities.

The main issue pertaining to the provision of motorcycle facility is the width of

its lane. If the width of the motorcycle lane is too wide, it may incur

unnecessary construction costs and also leads to speeding problems. On the

other hand, if the width of the lane is too narrow, the riding convenience and

safety of motorcyclists may be affected particularly when overtaking is not

possible. It is necessary to understand the basic sciences of motorcycles

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traffic so that a more scientific and professional judgment can be made with

regard to the design and operation of motorcycle facilities.

As such, this research aims to determine the effective factors affected by the

motorcycle lane width, to establish relationship between these factors and

finally determine the ideal width of motorcycle lane.

Study sites which met the research criteria were selected along the existing

exclusive motorcycle lane along the Federal Highway, Selangor, Malaysia.

To observe motorcyclists riding and passing another motorcyclist within the

motorcycle lane, the segments under study are at least 100 m long and

covered lane widths ranging from 1.8 m to 3.3 m.

Motorcycle flow was recorded using a digital video recorder and motorcycle

count is obtained by transcribing the pre-recordings in the laboratory.

Individual motorcycle spot speeds were measured using a laser speed

detector. To observe motorcyclists riding comfort, transcription was done on

the pre-recordings video in the laboratory where classification of comfortable

or not comfortable used riding interruptions as a surrogate in the field.

Aggregated motorcycle flow, speed and comfort data collected at 16 different

motorcycle lane widths were plotted. Quadratic regression analysis was

employed for the motorcycle flow-width relationship, Analysis of Variance

(ANOVA) test for the motorcycle speed-width relationship, and logistic

regression analysis for comfortable width.

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Results revealed that maximum motorcycle flow (mc/hr/m) occurs at 2.7 m

wide lane, comfort is observed at 2.7 m lane or wider, and motorcycle speeds

stabilized along 2.5 m lane or wider.

Hence, 2.7 m is an ideal lane width for motorcycle lanes which encompassed

the optimum of motorcyclist riding comfort, speed and flow. The findings of

this study not only contribute new knowledge to the field of transportation

engineering but would also be useful input in the design guidelines of

motorcycle lanes for highly motorcycled countries.

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Abstrak tesis yang dikemukakan kepada Senat Universiti Putra Malaysia sebagai memenuhi keperluan untuk ijazah Master Sains

PENENTUAN LEBAR YANG UNGGUL UNTUK LORONG MOTOSIKAL EKSKLUSIF SEPANJANG SEKSYEN LEBUH RAYA PERSEKUTUON,

SELANGOR, MALAYSIA

Oleh

MOHAMMAD RASOOL AHMAD RAJABI

Mei 2012

Pengerusi: Hussain B Hamid, PhD

Fakulti: Kejuruteraan

Dalam reka bentuk jalan, faktor-faktor seperti lebar lorong, kelegaan sisi,

penjajaran mendatar dan tegak mempengaruhi muatan dan tahap

perkhidmatan (LOS). Lebar lorong unggul ialah julat batas kelebaran di mana

muatan optima dicapai. Terdapat banyak kajian dan penulisan yang boleh

didapati tentang reka bentuk kemudahan-kemudahan basikal.

Bagaimanapun, penulisan dan kajian-kajian tentang reka bentuk

kemudahan-kemudahan motosikal adalah terhad.

Isu utama berkaitan dengan penyediaan kemudahan motosikal ialah

kelebaran lorongnya. Jika kelebaran lorong motosikal adalah terlalu luas, ia

boleh menyebabkan peningkatan kos pembinaan yang tidak perlu dan juga

masalah-masalah operasi. Sebaliknya, jika kelebaran lorong terlalu sempit,

keselesaan menunggang dan keselamatan penunggang motosikal boleh

terjejas terutamanya jika penunggang tidak dapat memotong motosikal yang

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lain. Adalah perlu untuk memahami sains asas kenderaan motosikal supaya

keputusan yang lebih profesional dan saintifik dapat dibuat berhubung

dengan reka bentuk dan operasi kemudahan-kemudahan motosikal.

Oleh itu, penyelidikan ini bertujuan untuk menentukan faktor-faktor berkesan

yang mempengaruhi kelebaran lorong motosikal, mewujudkan hubungan

antara faktor-faktor ini dan akhirnya menentukan kelebaran lorong motosikal

unggul.

Tapak kajian yang memenuhi kriteria penyelidikan dipilih sepanjang lorong

motosikal eksklusif di sepanjang Lebuhraya Persekutuan, Selangor,

Malaysia. Untuk pemerhatian penunggang motosikal dan pemotongan

penunggang motosikal yang lain di dalam ruang lorong motosikal, segmen-

segmen di bawah kajian adalah sekurang-kurangnya 100 m panjang dan

meliputi lebar lorong dari 1.8 m ke 3.3 m.

Aliran motosikal direkodkan menggunakan perakam video digital dan

bilangan motosikal diperolehi dengan mentranskripsi pra-rakaman di

makmal. Kelajuan setempat motosikal masing-masing diukur menggunakan

pengesan kelajuan laser. Untuk pemerhatian keselesaan menunggang

motosikal, transkripsi dilakukan dari pra-rakaman video di makmal itu di

mana pengelasan selesa atau tidak selesa bagi penunggang motosikal

menggunakan gangguan menunggang motosikal sebagai pemerhatian

pengganti di tapak kajian.

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Data aggregasi aliran motosikal, kelajuan dan keselesaan yang dikutip di 16

kelebaran lorong motosikal yang berbeza telah diplotkan. Analisis regresi

kuadratik digunakan untuk hubungan kelebaran-aliran motosikal, analisis

regresi fungsi bersyarat eksponen (ECFR) digunakan untuk hubungan

kelebaran-kelajuan motosikal, dan analisis regresi logistik untuk kelebaran

selesa.

Keputusan mendedahkan bahawa aliran motosikal maksimum

(motosikal/jam/m) berlaku pada lorong selebar 2.7 m, keselesaan

diperhatikan pada lorong selebar 2.7 m atau lebih, dan kelajuan motosikal

stabil di sepanjang lorong selebar 2.5 lorong m atau lebih.

Oleh itu, nilai 2.7 m ialah lebar lorong unggul untuk lorong motosikal yang

merangkumi keselesaan menunggang motosikal, kelajuan dan aliran

motosikal yang optima. Penemuan-penemuan kajian ini bukan sahaja

menyumbang ilmu baru bagi bidang kejuruteraan pengangkutan tetapi juga

dapat menjadi maklumat berguna sebagai garis panduan reka bentuk lorong

motosikal untuk negara-negara yang mempunyai bilangan motosikal yang

tinggi.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful, all praise and thanks are

due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger. I would like

to express the most sincere appreciation to those who made this work

possible: supervisory members, Friends and Family.

Firstly I would like to thank my supervisor Dr. Hussain Hamid for the many

useful advice and discussions, for his constant encouragement, guidance,

support and patience all the way through my study work. Equally the

appreciation extends to the supervisory committee members Dr. Sulistyo

Arintono for providing me the opportunity to complete my studies under their

valuable guidance.

I would also like to acknowledge the Civil Engineering Department of

Universiti Putra Malaysia, JKR and Roadcare for providing the numerous

facilities and support for this research work.

Thanks and acknowledgements are meaningless if not extended to my wife

and my parents who always gave relentless encouragement and support

which made my education possible.

Last but not least, my very special thanks to all my friends who were directly

and indirectly involved in this research and cooperated with this study.

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I certify that an Examination Committee has met on 23 May 2012 to conduct the final examination of Mohammad Rasool Ahmad Rajabi on his Master of Science thesis entitled "DETERMINATION OF IDEAL WIDTH FOR EXCLUSIVE MOTORCYCLE LANE ALONG THE STRAIGHT SECTION OF FEDERAL HIGHWAY, SELANGOR, MALAYSIA" in accordance with Unversiti Pertanian Malaysia (HIGHER Degree) Act 1980 and Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (High Degree) Regulation 1981. The committee recommends that the candidate be awarded the relevant degree. Members of the Examination Committee are as follows:

Thamer Ahmad Mohammad, PhD Professor Faculty of Engineering Universiti Putra Malaysia (Chairman)

Ratnasamy a/I Muniandy, PhD Professor Faculty of Engineering Universiti Putra Malaysia (Internal Examiner)

Law Teik Hua, PhD Assoc. Professor Faculty of Engineering Universiti Putra Malaysia (Internal Examiner)

Wan Hashim Wan Ibrahim, PhD Professor Faculty of Engineering University Malaysia Sarawak (External Examiner)

__________________________________ SEOW HENG FONG, PhD Professor and Deputy Dean

School of Graduate Studies Universiti Putra Malaysia Date:

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This thesis was submitted to the Senate of Universiti Putra Malaysia and has been accepted as fulfilment on the requirement for the degree of Master of Science. The members of the supervisory committee were as follows:

Hussain Hamid, PhD Senior Lecturer Faculty of Engineering Universiti Putra Malaysia (Chairman)

Sulistyo Arintono, PhD Senior Lecturer Faculty of Engineering Universiti Putra Malaysia (Member)

__________________________________ BUJANG BIN KIM HUAT, PhD Professor and Dean

School of Graduate Studies Universiti Putra Malaysia Date:

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DECLARATION

I declare that the thesis is my original work as per program given to me, except for quotations and citations, which have been duly acknowledged. I also declare that it has not been previously, and is not concurrently, submitted for any other degree at Universiti Putra Malaysia or other institutions.

__________________________________ MOHAMMAD RASOOL AHMAD RAJABI

Date: 23 May 2012

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page ABSTRACT ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS viii APPROVAL ix

DECLARATION xi LIST OF TABLES xiv

LIST OF FIGURES xv

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS xvii

CHAPTER

1 INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Motorcycle Transportation in Malaysia 1 1.2 Safety Engineering Program for Motorcyclists 1 1.3 Problem Statement 3 1.4 Objectives of the Study 4 1.5 Significance of the Study 5 1.6 Scope and Limitation of Study 5 1.7 Thesis Layout 6

2 LITERATURE REVIEW 8

2.1 Introduction 8 2.2 Fundamental Principles of Traffic Flow 8

2.2.1 Effects of Density on Vehicle Flow 9 2.2.2 Effects of Flow Rate of Vehicles against Lane Width 10 2.2.3 Definitions of Speed of Velocity 10 2.2.4 Speed-Flow-Density Relationship 12

2.3 Factors Affecting Lane Width 14 2.4 Relationship between Various Factors and Lane Width 17

2.4.1 Relationship between Safety and Lane Width 17 2.4.2 Relationship between Flow Rate and Lane Width 19 2.4.3 Relationship between Speed and Lane Width 20

2.5 Factors Affected by Lane Width 23 2.5.1 Types of Motorcycle Lane Facility 24 2.5.2 Motorcycle Operating Width 27 2.5.3 Motorcycle Comfortable Safe Width 29

2.6 Motorcycle Traffic Science 30 2.7 Motorcycle Lane Studies in Asian Countries 33 2.8 Bicycle Facilities 35

2.8.1 Bicycle Statics Space 35 2.8.2 Typical Bicycle Operating Space 36 2.8.3 Bicycle Lane Width Characteristics 37

2.9 Chapter Summary 38

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3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 40

3.1 Introduction 40 3.2 Review of Study to Identify related Factors to Lane Width 43 3.3 Field Study and Data Collection 44

3.3.1 Study Site and Selection Criteria 44 3.3.2 Standard Field Parameters and Measuring Equipment 47 3.3.3 Methodology of the Study 51 3.3.4 Impact of Safety Cones on Motorcyclists Behaviour 55 3.3.5 Definition of Comfortable Overtaking 56

3.4 Motorcycle Speed-Width, Flow-Width and Comfortable-Width Models 59 3.4.1 Modelling Motorcycle Comfortable-Width 59 3.4.2 Modelling Motorcycle Flow-Width 63 3.4.3 Modelling Motorcycle Speed-Width 64

3.5 Chapter Summary 67

4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 69

4.1 Related Factors to Ideal Lane Width 69 4.2 The Comfortable Lane Width 70

4.2.1. Comfort-Width Model 72 4.3. Motorcycle Flow-Width Relationship 77

4.3.1. Normality of Data 80 4.3.2. Model Fitting of Motorcycle Flow-Width Regression Model 80

4.4. Motorcycle Speed-Width Relationship 84 4.4.1. Scatter Plot of Speed-Width of Relationship 85 4.4.2. Statistic Tests 86 4.4.3. Normality of the Data 87 4.4.4. One-way ANOVA 88

4.5. Determination of an Ideal Lane Width for Exclusive Motorcycle Lane 94

5 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATION 97

5.1 Introduction 97 5.1. Related Factors to Ideal Lane Width 97 5.2. Motorcycle Comfortable-Width Relationship 98 5.3. Motorcycle Flow-Width relationship 98 5.4. Motorcycle Speed-Width relationship 99 5.5. Determination of an Ideal Lane Width for Exclusive Motorcycle

Lane 99 5.6. Applications 99 5.7. Further Study Recommendation 100

REFERENCES 102

APPENDIX A 106

APPENDIX C 109

APPENDIX D 140

APPENDIX E 150

BIODATA OF STUDENT 157

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