Roadside Motels and Transit Mobility in Serbia

Lazar Pavić, Milica Rančić Demir

Abstract


Roadside accommodation facilities play an essential infrastructural role within transport corridors, supporting transit mobility, regional connectivity, and spatial development. This study examines the functional characteristics of motels along major transport corridors in Serbia and conceptualizes them as elements of transport-linked land-use infrastructure, rather than destination-oriented tourism facilities. Using survey data collected from transit travelers and contextual insights into corridor infrastructure, the research analyzes socio-demographic patterns of demand, with a particular focus on differences between business and leisure travelers. The results show that roadside motels predominantly serve functional, short-stay mobility purposes, with older and business travelers reporting significantly higher satisfaction with motel services compared to younger and leisure travelers. Variables such as gender, income, education, and country of origin did not show statistically significant effects. These findings enhance the understanding of roadside accommodation within mobility systems and underline the importance of aligning service provision with the needs of different traveler groups. The study also highlights the relevance of roadside motels for corridor planning and mobility services, offering implications for the broader spatial development of transport-linked regions in Central and Southeast Europe.

Keywords: roadside accommodation, transit mobility, transport corridors, land-use infrastructure, socio-demographic patterns

© 2026 Serbian Geographical Society, Belgrade, Serbia.

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Serbia.


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