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They should not call it the "HOV lane" since they allow non high occupancy vehicles (e.g. hybrid car, electric car, motorcycles). My understanding was the HOV l
by coin 13y ago
They should not call it the "HOV lane" since they allow non high occupancy vehicles (e.g. hybrid car, electric car, motorcycles).
My understanding was the HOV lane's purpose is to encourage car pooling (i.e. high occupancy). Allowing single occupant motorcycles and electric cars sort of defeats this purpose.
- HCIdivision17 13y agoAs always, the trick is to remember the purpose of the HOV lane: keep traffic moving. That's part of the reason motorcycles are allowed. It's considered safer to let a motorcycle stay in motion than be in stop and go traffic [1]. And having been stuck in the Dallas MixMaster since the I-35E N HOV was shut down, I can say holding a motorcycle half clutched for half an hour is dang near painful. This is also the reason motorcycles are allowed to ride the line in traffic jams (also air-cooled engines need to stay in motion in summer). Plus, if you don't have a passenger seat, the bike's at full occupancy, which ought to be at least near high occupancy! [1] http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freewaymgmt/faq.htm#faq15 http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freewaymgmt/faq.htm#faq15 Edit: managed to get the highway wrong. Whoops.
- crystaln 13y agoYou seem to be assuming that HOV lanes are the result of some rational regulatory process. In fact, they have been shown in every study to disrupt traffic with little effect on carpooling.
- jdale27 13y agoThe naming is historical baggage. In practice, "HOV lanes" today serve two (intended) purposes: (1) reduce gridlock; (2) reduce pollution. As originally conceived, (2) could only be achieved by actual high occupancy vehicles being used to reduce the number of vehicles on the road. Now it can also be achieved by low- or zero-emission vehicles, hence the exception.
- chiph 13y agoI prefer the name "High Subsidy Lane" for them.
- thrownaway2424 13y agoBoom. Comment of the month. ^^^