Motorcycle. Social inclusion. Means of transport. Ownership and use of the motorcycle. Opportunity.

The motorcycle exhibits advantages over other modes of transportation, such as accessibility and speed, in addition to its low acquisition and maintenance costs. These advantages may outweigh the risks associated with this mode of transportation, particularly those linked to motorcycle involvement in traffic incidents. It is discernible that various factors influence motorcycle ownership and usage, making it imperative to investigate how users perceive this mode of transportation. As the motorcycle generates income and facilitates access to employment, education, healthcare, shopping, and leisure, concurrently enabling travel to destinations inaccessible by other means, it fosters urban development and social inclusion. The primary objective of this thesis is to comprehend how motorcycle ownership and usage as a mode of transportation expand access to socio-economic opportunities offered by cities. The hypothesized factors, including income, lack of alternative transportation choices, acquisition and maintenance costs, and the agility of motorcycles, are posited as the main attributes leading users to employ motorcycles for their daily commutes. These factors contribute to the intensified travel for various reasons, including the pursuit of opportunities and activities, as well as exploration of new destinations, thereby broadening the scope of access to opportunities and activities. Collectively, these factors contribute to the social inclusion of motorcycle users, in terms of accessibility and mobility to various activities and territories. To achieve this understanding, a field survey was conducted with motorcycle users who, through a questionnaire, assessed the key factors influencing motorcycle usage and ownership. The structural equation model, utilizing partial least squares estimation (PLS-SEM), was employed to identify socio-economic factors and opportunities attained through motorcycle usage. The results indicate that sociodemographic, economic, urban space-related, psychological, safety-related, travel pattern, and risk perception factors associated with motorcycle use influence motorcycle ownership and usage. These factors contribute to intensified travel for various reasons, expanding the radius of access to opportunities and activities. The motorcycle contributes to social inclusion by catering to a segment of the population with very-low to middle-low income, serving as a practical and agile vehicle that facilitates mobility and provides access to opportunities in urban centers. Due to its vulnerable nature, the motorcycle exposes its users to a higher risk of incidents, pollution exposure, and adverse weather conditions. This situation is associated with poverty and exclusion in transportation. Therefore, the motorcycle simultaneously acts in social inclusion and exclusion, a duality recognized in the analyses.