Using travel socialization and underlying motivations to better understand motorcycle usage in Taiwan

•This study combines socialization and motivation to understand motorcycle usage.•It uses Taiwanese usage data to confirm model explaining motorcycle usage.•Instrumental motivation is the most important driving force for motorcycle usage.•The effect of perceived parental attitudes towards motorcycle usage was verified.•Taiwan’s motorcycle use data can be used by transportation professionals worldwide.

This study introduces self-determination theory (SDT) to refine previous models of vehicle usage motivation. We add travel socialization theory regarding parental influence on vehicle usage to enhance previous structural models describing motorcycle usage behavior. Our newly developed model was empirically verified in a sample of 721 motorcycle users in Taiwan. In addition to instrumental, symbolic, and affective motivations, perceived parental attitudes (PPAs) towards motorcycle riding were found to have a significant effect on individuals’ motorcycle use habits. Additionally, participants who perceived their parents to have more positive attitudes toward motorcycles were found to have more experience being chauffeured on motorcycles by their parents. Based on these results, we suggest means to confront the challenges brought on by the rapid growth of motorcycle usage, especially serious motorcycle traffic accidents. These results improve our understanding motorcycle usage in Taiwan and can be used by transportation professionals who are seeking solutions to the rapid growth of motorcycle usage.