HOV Sucks

[Speedo]

There should be a premium tax put on anyone who choses to live 25 miles or more from their place of work. In addition, there should be a rebate to those who live within 5 miles of work. That is the only way to change traffic patterns by reducing the amount we rely on our cars.

Great idea in principle, but the end result would be that Toronto businesses that lose key employees to the suburbs will eventually move there themselves. And the day I have to pay a premium to live here and work in Toronto, is the day I seek employment out here and leave the city's headaches behind (especially if there's a rebate involved). That way, there's less time to drive to my favourite SC after work!

I do shift work with varied hours, so I can't be a regular contributer to a carpool. But I don't mind the HOV lanes -- it's a start.

But I do think the Toronto politicians of generations ago had a choice to make -- either go crazy with expressways like most U.S. cities or build up an extensive public transit system like NY or most major European cities. They did neither, suburban sprawl went unchecked and we're paying the price.

 

[baltimoron]

Slugging

In my area, the HOV lanes have led to "slugging" which is hitching a ride or offering a ride to a total stranger at dedicated pickup spots in order to use the HOV lanes.

I can't help but wonder how dangerous this must be.

http://www.slug-lines.com/Index.htm

 

[WhOiSyOdAdDy?]

In BC & UK many people put a blow-up doll in the passenger seat... I do

 

[C Dick]

The solution to traffic problems is to keep raising the tax on gas until the roads are uncongested. And use the money you make to improve transit and to improve the road system. It encourages all the right things - carpooling, transit use, driving little econocars, etc., while letting everyone go about it their own way. Most importantly, it ensures that I have traffic-free commuting in my big V8 as long as I can afford it.

I heard today on the radio that any person qualifies for HOV, even a baby. So as a commuter you will just have to take your kid out of school, and enroll him in an inner-city school with day-care. You bring him to and from work with you, and he attends school while you work. This is the stupidity of the HOV lane.

It would be interesting to know, from places like California where HOV lanes have been around a long time, how many cars per hour and average speed you get in HOV, regular, and when there is no HOV. I suspect that HOV slows lots of people down a ton, while benefitting only a small minority, that the net effect is a slower average speed, and consequently more pollution and stress.

 

[WhOiSyOdAdDy?]

Look at Vancouver, in the GVA, there is a gas tax, to pay for public transit etc.

outside that area gas is 5 cents / litre less epensive.. I think they should do the same thing for the GTA

 

[lewd]

Fund the TTC and we will gladly pay for it.

I'd love to think that funding would be the solution. We need someone who actually knows how to schedule routes and run the TTC with any efficiency.
Ridiculous short turns when there a crowd of 50+ waiting, rude bus drivers and ill timed subway stoppings are just few of my gripes.

Try taking public transit during rush hours and you'll see why many still choose the car (even with all the stress and extra costs) over the TTC.

 

[canucklehead]

WOw i took a job in the city and i live in another city and i have to drive because i am to lazy to get up an hour earlier because i live no where near my job but i choose to live in another city...... Reason why i always lived downtown till recently and 3 more weeks i get to move back into my house...... I had someone working for me that lived in Oakville and knew all along he was to be available between 8 to 4 or 9 to 5 ....started wanting to work 6 till 2 because the traffic was to heavy for him to drive in???? Sorry did your job interfere with your life???? Well you lived there when i hired you, i don't have any clients for you to go work at at 6 in the morning and most need you till 5 or 6 so WTF!!
I told him unfortunately you want a big house outside the city you need to make sacrifices. I hated the commute in and hated even more the asshats with 1 person in the car going to within 5 km of maybe 100 people that were traveling with them on the road in that 15 minute time frame and more then likely they live near each other.
I think tools on all roads coming into the core of the city should be enforced same as in London England. 25 pounds a day to drive into downtown London. You don't pay you get your car wheel locked and impounded. Pollution in London is cut in half as well as traffic.

 

[xix]

Well

Then you're either naive or completely out to lunch.

And the fact that you don't know the 407 has been steadily increasing in volume proves it's the latter.

First I could have written a web full of facts but I got better thing to do.
I have been to a city hall meeting about wlamart opeing up in Burlignton downtown. The city road engineers made this wonderful star wars/george lucas traffic flow on the computer. You better believe it wasn't telling the truth BECAUSE I go through that intersection daily.

SO yes they do lie or change the facts they were criticed by the public and they never said anything in theior defence.

Yes I am aware that 407 has had an increase in people but not at the junction I mention. Even if they did with would be very minial compared to other places. I being on 407 at different time of the day. Between Mitlon and burlington there is less traffic.

Like I said I don't want to write so much or as the players call it KJ ( keyboard Jocking) like you do.

 

[Mao Tse Tongue]

I was on the 405 in L.A. a few months back, and the car pool lanes were a breeze! Me and my partner blazed by gridlocked commuters and cut our travel time in half.

Of course my partner was plastic, and filled with hot air, but who cares!

 

[Judas H]

Of course my partner was plastic, and filled with hot air, but who cares!

Yeah, I've had a few air head girlfriends with lots of plastic surgery...Thats nothing to be ashamed of.

 

[james t kirk]

How many times have we heard no new lanes, no new roads, no Scarborough Expressway, no Allen extension because we want to encourage transit. Fine then get me out of my friggin car by giving me options. If you live in butf___k York Region and you have to go York Transit, Go Transit and then two different subway lines...that is not a choice

They need to put their money where their mouth is and fully fund transit ie subway from Newmarket (yonge st) to join with Finch Station/TTC.

Frigging fund transit and I will get on board so will thousands of 905'ers and the traffic problem is fixed. It makes me sick to hear the Transport Minister gleefully announce how traffic problems will be solved with HOV. Painting lines and adding signs is a drop in the bucket for what we really need.

Totally agree.

Time to start building some more subways from the north and increasing the size and scope of GO Transit.

 

[booboobear]

Great idea in principle, but the end result would be that Toronto businesses that lose key employees to the suburbs will eventually move there themselves. And the day I have to pay a premium to live here and work in Toronto, is the day I seek employment out here and leave the city's headaches behind (especially if there's a rebate involved). That way, there's less time to drive to my favourite SC after work!

I do shift work with varied hours, so I can't be a regular contributer to a carpool. But I don't mind the HOV lanes -- it's a start.

Lets face it Toronto traffic is a mess . Unless something is done in 5 yrs or less there will be gridlock . Some good suggestions have been made one would be elevated public transit cheaper than subways . Some people even now who could take the subway refuse because a car is convenient.The HOV lanes are an attempt to get people to share because you just can't keep adding cars to the existing roads . People come up with a million excuses why they can't share but something has to be done. Companies should encourage people to pair up where possible.