Eliminate HOV/CARPOOL lane?

Presto · Apr 2, 2006

I hear more people complain about these carpool lanes. In theory, they sound like a good idea. But most people prefer the convienience of driving solo while gritting their teeth at the somewhat vacant carpool lane.

I heard an idea the other day. Would cost virtually nothing and could allow for a better flow on the highways. Instead of a carpool lane, devote the right lane for the sole purpose of getting on the freeway and exiting the freeway (a merge/exit lane). The other left lanes would be for travellilng through. If one were caught driving past an exit they would be subject to a fine. Sounds good in theory, who knows if it would work.

maxdemo · Apr 2, 2006

Here in Houston they have and need carpool lanes..and they work. In fact they are building the HOV lane on the Katy frwy that will have 4 lanes...2 going each way. Maybe for some cities they should not have them...but here in htown we need them....jmo

TerrelOwens · Apr 2, 2006

i dunno either

Presto · Apr 3, 2006

Shameless bump as I at least want to think RX'ers have more to comment on this working-person everyday issue.

gynecologist · Apr 3, 2006

I think they should get rid of it.

Lets say you have 5 lanes 1 of them is a carpool lane.
That means 20% of the road is not available. That sucks
when records show only 6% use the carpool lane.

WVU · Apr 3, 2006

On I95 here in South Florida the car pool lane is definitely a good thing. It is less congested and that is the whole idea. If you buy a hybrid car you can ride in the carpool lane without other passengers. The cops write up dozens and dozens of tickets in the very same spots every day for single motorists who try to take their chances. You would have to be either a tourist or a complete idiot to jump in this lane without passengers. Even still they bust hundreds every day. I think it is a $200 fine. $200 x 200 = $40,000 at least daily on one small stretch going just North of downtown Miami.

I personally think they should add another lane for carpoolers. There is too much traffic and gas prices are high and carpooling should be more commonplace.

ElJefe · Apr 3, 2006

I think it's been useless anywhere I've seen it in the northeast. On rt 84 in CT, I hardly ever have seen cars in it.

JayC · Apr 3, 2006

I think they shouls be unconstitutional. They discriminate against single people.

Basically 20% of the road isreserved for 10% of the people.

Thething that gets me is most of the people in the car pool lane have not caused a single car to be taken off the road. They would have had that many people in their car anyway. (2 or 3 depending where you are) How about the woman in the SUV with one or two little kids? She gets to drive in the car pool lane. Would the kids have driven themselves otherwise? Who is doing more for the environment, a single person in a Honda Civic or a woman in an Expedition with two kids?

Under the present system people who incidentally have enough people in the car get car pool privileges whether they are "carpooling" or not. Yet everyone pays for these lanes, which for some reason cost millions to set up.

Open up all the lanes for everyone. If all of a sudden five lane highways which dedicated one lane for car pool became true five lane highways, that would be a 25% increase in road capacity for the rest of us.

maxdemo · Apr 3, 2006

I-45 HOV lane in Houston, TX

Today, some 4.3 million people live in the 8,800-square mile Houston metropolitan region, which is characterized by low-density development, typical of southwestern cities. A system that encompasses some 100 miles of HOV lanes, numerous direct access ramps, 28 park-and-ride lots, four park-and-pool lots, an extensive network of express bus service, and a value pricing demonstration project. This system provides preferential treatment to buses, vanpools, and carpools in the major freeway corridors.

Recognized as the leading network of its kind in the world, METRO's (Houston, TX) High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) network continues to move commuters where they need to go quickly and efficiently. Built primarily for buses, the HOV also promotes ridesharing through vanpools and carpools, which reduces traffic congestion and provides cleaner, healthier air throughout the region.
Physically located in the center of most major freeways, our HOV lanes are a network of barrier-separated roadways that allow buses, vanpools and carpools to move higher volumes of passengers to and from Downtown, and other locations in between.

METRO's HOV lanes facilitate almost 110,000 person trips each weekday, serving about 35, 000 vehicle trips that would otherwise continue traveling the main lanes.
The average rush-hour speed on Houston freeways is roughly 24 miles per hours. HOV lanes maintain an operating speed of roughly 50-55 miles per hour, hence saving the average commuter 12 to 22 minutes per trip.
Our HOV network is so efficient that it would take as many as 24 freeway lanes combined to equal the amount of rush-hour passengers traveling the HOV.

Dont know about other cities...but here in Houston they work!!

BAGIANT · Apr 3, 2006

Out here in Calif. they are talking about getting rid of some of the car pool lanes. It's been found that traffic flows more freely when you let the other cars use the car pool lanes.

gynecologist · Apr 4, 2006

In calif carpool lanes have made traffic worst. especially for single
person drivers.,

Presto · Apr 4, 2006

drive fast or die

stuckinvegas said:
Out here in Calif. they are talking about getting rid of some of the car pool lanes. It's been found that traffic flows more freely when you let the other cars use the car pool lanes.

That's good to hear. I would have never guessed California would even consider anything that makes it easier for people to drive.

Single folk get screwed so many ways: taxes, carpool lane, and most importantly 2 for 1 buffet coupons. Sounds like us single persons need to unite in solidarity for our freedoms. NASP National Association for Single People.

Presto · Apr 4, 2006

comments?

Presto said:
I heard an idea the other day. Would cost virtually nothing and could allow for a better flow on the highways. Instead of a carpool lane, devote the right lane for the sole purpose of getting on the freeway and exiting the freeway (a merge/exit lane). The other left lanes would be for travellilng through. If one were caught driving past an exit they would be subject to a fine. Sounds good in theory, who knows if it would work.

I would be curious to hear comments on this idea.

Imagine the the left lanes flowing along with very few changing lanes. The middle lanes flowing but not as swiftly. And the right lane having only cars merging or exiting. Free flow utopia!

arty:

gynecologist · Apr 4, 2006

sounds like a good idea to me?

SunDodger · Apr 4, 2006

They should open up the carpool lanes on Sat., Sun. and Holidays. They should also be open during the week in the evenings and late night. The only time they should be restricted is during the business hour commutes, 6am-6pm Mon.-Fri. After 6pm, they should be wide open.

Presto · Apr 4, 2006

Sun Dodger said:
They should open up the carpool lanes on Sat., Sun. and Holidays. They should also be open during the week in the evenings and late night. The only time they should be restricted is during the business hour commutes, 6am-6pm Mon.-Fri. After 6pm, they should be wide open.

I assumed that's the way it is everywhere. :monsters-

Are you saying the carpool lane is 24/7 in Seattle?
It that's the case, outrageous.

gynecologist · Apr 4, 2006

Damn Seattle has carpool lanes 24/7?? Damn that is messed up

Eliminate HOV/CARPOOL lane?

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