Motorcycles in HOV Lanes

[Chris Locke]

I'm having news trouble but this article is cool .. I've been thinking that
as Ontario starts with high occupancy roadways that we should be exempt:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/08/18/solo_on_motorcycle_hov_is_ok/

c

[cpic...@yahoo.com]

I had heard that in Toronto motorcyclists could use an HOV lane.
I talked to urban planning specialists during highway 417 public
consultations and was
told that there were no HOV lanes presently in Ontario, there is a
proposal to have
them on the 417 when it is widened in the West end.
When challenged on the Toronto HOV example, he declared that it must be
a municipal
roadway rather than a provincial roadway that would have such an HOV
lane.
I researched a bit the Boston article cited.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/08/18/solo_on_motorcycle_hov_is_ok/
It does not seem to be a safety issue as the Boston article contends,
but rather a public policy issue
designed around an intent for fuel conservation as described in the
legislation.
Here are the links to the appropriate US legislation.
23 U.S.C. TITLE 23--HIGHWAYS, CHAPTER 1, SUBCHAPTER I, Section 146
http://www.access.gpo.gov/uscode/title23/chapter1_subchapteri_.html
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=browse_usc&docid=Cite:+23USC146
``[...]no funds apportioned or allocated to a State
for Federal-aid highways shall be obligated for a project for
constructing, resurfacing, restoring, rehabilitating, or reconstructing

a Federal-aid highway which has a lane designated as a carpool lane
unless the use of such lane includes use by motorcycles. [...]"
See also the US Dept of Transportation regulations at
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?c102:1:./temp/~c102LjDNEr:e296515:
Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA),
Public Law 102-240 (Dec. 18, 1991)
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/legsregs/legislat.html

[Jason]

I use the car pool lanes on my way to quebec. I figure that if 2 people
are in a car, at most, that is ~50% capacity so 1 person on a bike is
also 50% capacity so it is ok.

That assumes that it is a 4 passenger car, which is typically not true.
You usually see 2 people in a giant SUV, both on cell phones whizzing
through the carpool lane.

I figure I'm ok to do that, but then again, I do ride a motorcycles,
and judging by popular opinio, we don't do anything right.

[cpic...@yahoo.com]

Ministry of Transportation is about to create HOV lanes in Ontario.
http://www.ontla.on.ca
Public hearings to be held September 14, 15.
Deadline to be addressing the hearings (be on the agenda) is Sept 8 @
3:00PM.
Written comments can be sent until 5PM Sep 15.
http://www.ontla.on.ca/documents/Bills/38_Parliament/Session1/b169_e.htm
Now is the time to let them now you want motorcycles in HOV lanes like
in the states.

[Richard Short]

Hello

What is an HoV lane?

I cannot find a reference to its discussion at the link provided.

Regards

Richard

[John Ramsey]

High Occupancy Vehicle

--
John Ramsey
Site Manager - Imperial Parking
613-232-4466
imperial...@bellnet.ca
"Richard Short" <dev...@lincsat.com> wrote in message
news:1125590278.ea4bb23a659c6600268da3aff18a0776@teranews...

[Steve]

It is part 24 of that bill. There is already provision for motorcycles
in HOV lanes. See #2: Rugulation may be general of specific.

24. Part X of the Act is amended by adding the following section:

Regulations for high occupancy vehicle lanes

154.1 (1) Where a part of the King's Highway has been divided into
clearly marked lanes for traffic, the Minister may by regulation
designate any lane as a high occupancy vehicle lane for that part of
the King's Highway and may make regulations,

(a) limiting the designation to specified months or times of the year,
days, times, conditions or circumstances;

(b) limiting the use of high occupancy vehicle lanes to vehicles, or
any class or type of vehicles, with a specified number of occupants,
and prescribing conditions and circumstances for such use;

(c) regulating the use of high occupancy vehicle lanes, including
prescribing rules of the road applicable to the use of the lanes,
exemptions from any requirement in this Part or in a regulation made
under this Part applicable to the use of the lanes and conditions and
circumstances for such exemptions;

(d) providing for the erection of signs and the placing of markings to
identify high occupancy vehicle lanes and the entry and exit points
for high occupancy vehicle lanes;

(e) prescribing the types of the signs and markings referred to in
clause (d), instructions to be contained on them and the location of
each type of sign and marking.

Regulation may be general or specific

(2) A regulation made under subsection (1) may be general or specific
in its application and may apply differently to different classes or
types of vehicles.

Offence

(3) No person shall drive a motor vehicle in a high occupancy vehicle
lane or enter or exit a high occupancy vehicle lane except in
accordance with this section and the regulations made under it.

from http://www.ontla.on.ca/documents/Bills/38_Parliament/Session1/b169_e.htm2

[Nancy]

Can you make it a little easier for me/us to read about this...I went to the
website and still do not know what HOV lanes are nor could I see anything
about them...Truthfully, I didn't spend a lot of time looking....

<cpic...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1125582656.7...@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

[cpic...@yahoo.com]

Yes Steve there is provision for regulations, however the Bill does not
say whether the Minister of Transportatuion intends to allow
motorcycles in HOV lanes or simply ban vehicles with less than 2
passengers. Champlain bridge between Ottawa and Hull specifically bans
single-rider motorcycles as specified on the NCC website. We have to
lobby to be recognized like in Vancouver, Toronto, and throughout the
States.

Steve wrote:
> [...] There is already provision for motorcycles
> in HOV lanes.

[cpic...@yahoo.com]

Post one of three - Background info on Bill 169

The Ontario provincial government is modifiying legislation.
The Highway Act is being amended pertaining to High Occupancy Vehicle
(HOV) lanes.
This is done through Bill 169, section 24, amending Part X of the
Highway Act.
It is in the current plans to put HOV lanes on the highway 417 in
Ottawa.
There are good reasons to have motorcycles in HOV lanes, but public
acceptance of motorcycles demonstrates that you have to push for this
to happen.
It is not impossible to get, the US Highway Act recognizes motorcycles
in HOV lanes.
A request for comments on the proposed legislative changes was
published in newspapers.
You may send written submissions to the proposed legislation by 5:00pm
on Sep 15, 2005.
Collect calls are accepted at the Toronto telephone number (416)
325-3519.
No email address is provided for the Committee Clerk, even if you find
one I encourage you to send submissions to either the advertised postal
address or fax number.
For as long as the Bill is pending, you can find it on the web at the
URL
http://www.ontla.on.ca/documents/Bills/38_Parliament/Session1/b169_e.htm
The general website of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario is
http://www.ontla.on.ca
If you do not have the time to compose a response yourself, I propose
one in one of the following postings to this newsgroup
Keep following the issue, it is not a one time deal. Follow the public
consultations on modifications to the Queensway, follow urban planning
public consultations, follow future events.
Send your submission to the committee, copy pertinent MPPs, copy your
local MPP.

[cpic...@yahoo.com]

Post two of three - Contacts

Minister of Transportation, Hon. Harinder S. Takhar,
<mailto:htakh...@liberal.ola.org>, Fax : 416-327-9188
Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Transportation, Jean-Marc
Lalonde, <mailto:jmlalo...@liberal.ola.org>, Fax : 416-325-4757
Official Opposition Critic, Transportation, John O'Toole,
<mailto:john....@pc.ola.org>, Fax : 416-325-6255
Committe Chair: Toronto-Danforth Marilyn Churley,
<mailto:mchur...@ndp.on.ca>, Tel : 416-325-3250, Fax : 416-325-3252
Your local MPP can be found at
http://olaap.ontla.on.ca/mpp/daCurRdg.do?locale=en&ord=RDG_NAME
Ottawa Centre, Richard Patten, <mailto:rpatt...@liberal.ola.org>,
Tel : 613-722-6414,
Fax : 613-722-6703
Ottawa South, Hon. Dalton McGuinty,
<mailto:dmcguint...@liberal.ola.org>, Tel : 613-736-9573, Fax :
613-736-7374
Ottawa West-Nepean Hon. Jim Watson,
<mailto:jwats...@liberal.ola.org>, Tel : 613-721-8075, Fax :
613-721-5756
Ottawa-Orléans Phil McNeely, <mailto:pmcnee...@liberal.ola.org>,
Tel : 613-834-8679
Fax : 613-834-7647
Ottawa--Vanier, Hon. Madeleine Meilleur,
<mailto:mmeilleu...@liberal.ola.org>, Tel : 613-744-4484, Fax :
613-744-0889
Lanark-Carleton, Norman W. Sterling,
<mailto:norm.st...@pc.ola.org>, Tel : 613-253-1171, Fax :
613-253-1175

[cpic...@yahoo.com]

Post three of three - Sample submission you can make to the committee

**************

To: the Committee Clerk,
The standing Committee on General Government
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Telephone: (416) 325-3519
Fax number: (416) 325-3505
Address: Room 1405, Whitney Block, Queen's Park, Toronto ON M7A 1A2

From: [Your name and address ]

Date: [ fill in ]

Subject: I am respectfully commenting on Bill 169 in the form of a
written submission to The Committee, in accordance to the terms
published in newspapers by the Committee Clerk.

My submission pertains to the use of motorcycles in high occupancy
vehicle (HOV) lanes.
I support the designation of HOV lanes as necessary for efficient use
of transportation.
I recognize the need to amend the Highway Traffic Act for the use of
HOV lanes.
I bring to your attention that other jurisdictions allow single-rider
motorcycles in HOV lanes,
in particular in the United States, and in Vancouver.
In the interest of highway safety, fuel conservation, and promoting a
greener form of transportation that reduces parking constraints, I
submit that the legislation and/or the associated regulations and
policies should allow the use of single-rider motorcycles in HOV lanes.

Regards,

[ sign ]

[cpic...@yahoo.com]

Nancy wrote: Can you make it a little easier for me/us to read about

this...I went to the website and still do not know what HOV lanes are

[...]

Nancy,
We're talking about High Occupancy Vehicle lanes. Think of it as a
carpool lane whose purpose is intended to encourage drivers to use
efficient transportation and reduce traffic jams. As soon as you put in
place an HOV lane, then taxi drivers want to use it, electric cars want
to use it, and motorcycles want to use it. I speak for motorcycles. I
want to use it.
It's being planned for the 417 in the west end of Ottawa with the
proposed widening of the 417 between Nepean (around the 416 split) and
Stitsville.
And possibly other places like the 174.
Its usually a dedicated lane near the median such that cars don't cross
it to get from regular lanes to exits, nor from onramps to regular
lanes (as a safety issue).
In the States, the National Highway Transportation NHTSA got the
Federal government to write into law (a 1991 amendment to the Highway
Act) that motorcycles had to be allowed in HOV lanes in order to get
federal funding for highway improvements.
In Canada, it seems to be an uphill battle as if motorcycles were
politically incorrect. The NCC does not allow (single-rider)
motorcycles in the HOV lane of Champlain bridge between Ottawa and
Gatineau (around Island Park Drive).
We have to lobby to get recognised.
The facts support us for safety, energy conservation (fuel) and overall
green objectives such as Kyoto. I want to ride in the HOV lane. Let's
make some noise to our politicians.