Novice riders use of Powered-Two-Wheelers for commuting: insight using the theory of planned behaviour

Globally the rapid growth of motorisation is creating increasing concerns that affect urban mobility and amenity. Increased motor vehicle ownership and use in urban areas, particularly in developed countries including Australia, has led to the increase of vehicle congestion, elongating travel times and the need to provide more parking facilities in already crowded urban areas. While considerable research attention has been focussing on the challenges associated with increasing private car travel in urban areas, relatively little research has been conducted on the use of alternative motorised forms of private personal transport, specifically motorcycles and motor scooters collectively referred to as Powered-Two-Wheel (PTW) vehicles. The aim of this research was to develop understanding of the parameters contributing enormously to the use of PTW for commuting, particularly by novice riders who have recently taken up riding. In this context, many studies, which have sought to engage PTW riders in travel related research, as opposed to road safety research, have struggled to recruit participants. An explicit dimension of this research was to examine the effectiveness of strategies designed to maximise the recruitment and retention of study participants. The empirical results highlight the value of using reminders along with a prize draw with one high value prize rather than a number of lower value prizes. Higher recruitment of younger riders was achieved using a professionally designed postcard with a Quick Response Code (QR code), which provided direct access to the survey web site for respondents using a Smartphone. Results of this research provide valuable insight into the range of techniques, which can be used to increase response rate in the researches aiming to recruit PTW riders. In this research, the extent to, which novice riders commute using a PTW has been analysed through the lens of the Theory of Planned Behaviour. Data collected in a panel survey of novice riders in Victoria, Australia was used to develop a model of commuting by the use of PTW. Attitudinal parameters along with the advantages associated with the use of PTW for commuting were found to explain 55 percent of the variation in the travel behaviour of respondents. Social norms were not found to have a significant effect on the extent to, which novice riders used a PTW for commuting. Results of this research provide new and valuable insights into the researches aiming to develop travel mode choice models, travel assignment models and PTW safety models.