The idea behind HOV lanes is to move more people than cars. Fewer cars on the road should mean less congestion for everyone. Adding another lane does little to nothing to solve congestion problems in the real world, plus there are space concerns in metropolitan areas (such as DC). There's just not any more land the state can buy without spending billions of dollars to do so for highway expansion.

The way it works now, the HOV lanes tend to be almost empty while the masses sit idling in traffic. You would think that would get frustrating after a while, and people would start to carpool to take advantage of the HOV lanes.

People are very attached to their cars, and they worry about being able to get home in an emergency. Plus people are uncomfortable when forced to be with others while commuting. These are valid concerns and there are not too many good responses to that other than doing a cost-benefit analysis of the decision. By using HOV you can reduce your car insurance premium cost because you will be driving fewer miles annually. You will clearly reduce your out-of-pocket gas expenses and wear-&-tear on your car. A study form about 10 years ago found that if enough people used HOV lanes, emissions pollution from idling cars would be reduced by 55%. Think about all of the downstream benefits and cost-savings that provides in that respect.

As far as opening the lanes for general use in critical situations, that depends on the design. On 95 South in VA, the lanes are located in between the north and south-bound lanes, so that they can be used by traffic going in that direction when it is most beneficial to have the lanes open. Access is severely limited (I think that 95 south only has about 5 or 6 entrances & exits from the HOV lanes). That obviously provides a challenge where the lanes are open for one direction but the accident is going the opposite direction. AFAIK, they allow one hour between changes in direction on these lanes. Where the lane is simply the fast lane that gets converted to HOV use at a certain time of day, yes, that should be opened to general use (like the shoulder on Rt 66 West in VA). Like 66, setting up a light system (red X, green O, etc) would be ideal. The only problem there is that the people who made the effort to car pool are deprived of the reward for their sacrifice.

One idea I have long promoted to increase HOV lane usage is to give users a tax credit, or some kind of discount on vehicle regitration fees. This has been done in some areas, but not enough to the point where people know about it. Employers can also provide incentives to their employees to carpool, which saves the employer money more often than not, especially when the employer pays for employee parking.

Mass transit is also a key option to have where HOV lanes are being used. Here in DC, the mass transit system is very good (for the most part) so fewer people probably use HOV as the alternative to Metro.

Mike
88 SPG
95 Aero
00 Aero

posted by 138.88.1...

• Ideas needed for communicating with tailgaters, Chuck, Tue, 2 Mar 2004 09:52:06
  • The left lane is for PASSING, not cruising. Move. n/m, Wavey, Fri, 5 Mar 2004 06:21:07
  • move over and let them go by, MarkP., Wed, 3 Mar 2004 08:48:06
  • middle finger? j/k haha, Gordon , Tue, 2 Mar 2004 21:16:23
  • This should probably work, saw, Tue, 2 Mar 2004 20:53:36
  • Let me be clear about one thing, Chuck, Tue, 2 Mar 2004 19:50:21
    • Oil? nay... Kerosene..., Lutfisk, Thu, 4 Mar 2004 08:31:44
    • Install bulbs in both sides of the rear foglights., Dave Westlake, Wed, 3 Mar 2004 10:07:51
    • Re: Let me be clear about one thing, RobInfo, Wed, 3 Mar 2004 04:12:37
  • Hmmm, what's the rules for a HOV lane?, RobInfo, Tue, 2 Mar 2004 19:19:54
  • I never have this problem, Steve88SiS, Tue, 2 Mar 2004 18:05:39
    • never? long diatribe on highway driving styles....., WASSAAB, Tue, 2 Mar 2004 20:51:10
      • I refuse to drive like an old fart (unless there's one, Steve88SiS, Wed, 3 Mar 2004 10:00:36
      • Twin sons of different mothers, Chuck, Wed, 3 Mar 2004 06:38:44
  • question>> whats a HOV? some fancy hovercraft?nm, sab, Tue, 2 Mar 2004 17:55:26
    • HOV = High Occupancy Vehicle (again, long), WASSAAB, Wed, 3 Mar 2004 07:05:42
      • What your opinion on them?, Steve88SiS, Wed, 3 Mar 2004 14:14:56
        • HOV in action, WASSAAB, Wed, 3 Mar 2004 15:33:25 <-- Viewing This Message
  • Chuck, are you referring to the LIE by any chance?, Alex Athanasiou, Tue, 2 Mar 2004 15:58:35
    • Yep, Chuck, Tue, 2 Mar 2004 18:20:41
    • I use the rear fog, too, WASSAAB, Tue, 2 Mar 2004 16:52:18
  • Given the unfriendly roads, I find subtlety best..., mdj, Tue, 2 Mar 2004 14:22:29
  • Nothing!, jimtimkim, Tue, 2 Mar 2004 13:29:43
    • Good Post!, Scott Paterson , Tue, 2 Mar 2004 13:57:28
      • Re: Good Post!, kgoetz97, Wed, 3 Mar 2004 04:39:30
  • Re: seriously, steveC, Tue, 2 Mar 2004 12:34:16
    • You can only exit the HOV in designated areas...., Alex Athanasiou, Tue, 2 Mar 2004 16:00:28
      • Re: huh interesting, stevec, Tue, 2 Mar 2004 18:49:01
    • Re: I read one of your responses Re: HOV, steveC, Tue, 2 Mar 2004 12:36:47
      • In some states the HOV lane (only one lane) has...., TKC, Tue, 2 Mar 2004 13:09:18
  • Re: Ideas needed for communicating with tailgaters, johnf, Tue, 2 Mar 2004 12:24:24
    • I had a boss that did that with unpopped popcorn, saw, Tue, 2 Mar 2004 16:04:10
      • the guy who followed us through Texas and New Mexico, nt moore, Tue, 2 Mar 2004 18:21:39
        • What part of the panhandle? n/m, Clay McNeely , Wed, 3 Mar 2004 07:01:45
          • well, it might have been missouri, nt moore, Wed, 3 Mar 2004 09:38:54
  • I think in this situation your only choice is (+), Vlad, Tue, 2 Mar 2004 11:52:55
  • Don't assume your speed is rational for all. n/m, john burnett, Tue, 2 Mar 2004 11:37:39
  • Just show him/her your handgun, that will get them ...., Red Rocket, Tue, 2 Mar 2004 11:03:46
    • yup, that will probably get YOU a long conversation, mdj, Tue, 2 Mar 2004 14:16:40
  • I've always wanted to use my rear wiper sprayer, not_too_shabby, Tue, 2 Mar 2004 11:03:25
    • Great time to use wipers to clean windshield., MarkP., Wed, 3 Mar 2004 08:37:29
  • I get the same thing...drives me nuts..what I do is.., Noel, Tue, 2 Mar 2004 11:00:21
  • If you are in the HOV lane with barriers on ....., TKC, Tue, 2 Mar 2004 10:40:26
  • how about a bumper sticker>>>, mudpuppy, Tue, 2 Mar 2004 10:26:47
  • Check your state laws, serendipity, Tue, 2 Mar 2004 10:21:37
    • HOV lanes are exceptions..., Bob M, Tue, 2 Mar 2004 12:15:03
    • HOV lanes..., Chuck, Tue, 2 Mar 2004 10:56:59
  • I have in the past used poor speed control., Jimbo, Tue, 2 Mar 2004 10:16:08

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