Anybody from here…pic from article on pollution in Phoenix area

[Brad]

[sandy]

Now if that was a black tourer, it might have been me. I ride the HOV lane twice a day for 16 miles each way. Except I'm close to the cars so they can see me coming in their rear view mirror.

[Paxton]

Not me but I'm the one in the white car. 

[RudyF6]

Can somebody explain HOV lanes to me? I mean, what's the point? Wouldn't it be more efficient to open the extra lane to ALL traffic? It doesn't make sense to restrict the lane, especially when looking at this pic.

[Jess from VA]

The theory is it will stimulate (force) people to ride-share, take buses, vanpools, or do whatever politically correct thing the G wants to qualify for the HOV lane.   Also, less pollution = happier world.

It might be more efficient or fair (considering all those stuck in traffic, going to/from WORK, paid taxes) to open all lanes, but the G knows what's better for us.  It's another progressive (lefty) idea.

[PAVALKER]

Can somebody explain HOV lanes to me? I mean, what's the point? Wouldn't it be more efficient to open the extra lane to ALL traffic? It doesn't make sense to restrict the lane, especially when looking at this pic.

It rewards those individuals that car pool or have more than one person in the vehicle.  Bikes have access to it because they are already at 50% capacity of the vehicle I guess.  I think its a great idea, especially because most don't have more than one person per car, and that is less traffic in the HOV lane.   If they did open all lanes to traffic then all lanes would be blocked and it would probably bottle neck down the line anyhow.

Here we have HOV lanes that are one way.... in AM they are "inbound" and evening they are "outbound" and are placed in between the two normal traffic lanes with barriers so you can't get in or out except at designated areas/exits.  

[bigguy]

Here we have HOV lanes that are one way.... in AM they are "inbound" and evening they are "outbound" and are placed in between the two normal traffic lanes with barriers so you can't get in or out except at designated areas/exits.  

Similar set up in Dallas. They've got a big machine that travels down the road and moves the concrete barriers in and out so that they only have HOV lanes during Monday - Friday rush hours. As it's usually a weekend that I find myself in the big D, I don't often get to take advantage of them. But on a couple of occasions when I've been there during the week, they were nice.

I read about people using blow up dolls and manikins to cheat. Ya don't want to get caught pulling that in Dallas.

[Gryphon Rider]

I know my wife and I were pleasantly surprised to find we could travel the HOV lanes in LA with just the two of us in the car.  Since most vacationers are not alone in their cars, it's nice that they can avoid some of the local congestion.  So how much time would the HOV lane save a typical commuter anyway?  My HOV experience was a few years ago.

[Paxton]

Unfortunately, the "Diamond Lane" (former name") at peak-traffic hours is often just as congested.
In 2000 it was "predicted" by Cal Trans that by 2010 the number of motor-vehicles in California would double.
I have not heard a follow-up to that prediction, but if found true I would not be a bit surprised.

Back when they inaugurated the program, cops were ticketing people who'd blatantly violated the two person per car rule.
Then, people started using mannequins  as "passengers" until the cops caught up with that trick.

The funniest ticket was given to a guy employed transporting corpses to the funeral home in an enclosed Van.
When pulled over by the cops for "driving alone," he claimed that the corpse was his passenger.  He still got the ticket.  

Took it to court and the judge dropped the ticket to a "warning." However, he ruled that a corpse does not count as a "passenger"
because it is traveling against its will and to an unknown destination...    Kind of like a benevolent kidnapping!

... only in LA!