Blah blah blah. You simply refuse to acknowledge that markets work. You need to go take Econ 101, and learn why price is an efficient way of regulating demand.It's failing to scale.
It increases the average speed of whoever uses the lane, that's for sure.
Ahh, so we're talking income here and not wealth; oftentimes one does not dictate the other. Besides that, income does not necessarily point to productivity. Even assuming those who inherited their wealth for some reason avoid the priority lane and those who do make the most are also the most productive on average, the increased congestion in non-priority lanes would more than offset any benefit versus opening the lane to everyone. The only actual benefit to having a HOT lane versus a regular lane is that it is a source of income for the government to help account for their fiscal irresponsibility.
Here is what will happen. The HOT lane will be free for certain people. Firemen, police services, paramedics, etc.... Makes sense that these people would be granted free access to the HOT lane. But then they'll open it up to other public sector employees. Politicans; why not? They're big important men/women responsible for running the country after all. Then other public sector workers will receive the same perk. I mean, any tolls collected from these people go right back into the public coffers anyway, so lets grant them compensated access to the priority lane. As if public sector employees didn't already have enough advantage over their private counterparts. Need has now gone right out the window in exchange for granting priority access to the wealthy and those with the right connections. Ahhh, plutocracy at work!
Democratic societies should not have their governments run like that.
I have literally taken ECON 101 and 102. I know that price is an effective way to regulate demand. However, that's not how this toll will work. You are not reducing demand, you are simply moving it.Blah blah blah. You simply refuse to acknowledge that markets work. You need to go take Econ 101, and learn why price is an efficient way of regulating demand.
Yes, demand will be reduced, dramatically in the HOT lane, and overall. The congestion in the remaining lanes will deter some traffic.I have literally taken ECON 101 and 102. I know that price is an effective way to regulate demand. However, that's not how this toll will work. You are not reducing demand, you are simply moving it.
You do realize that demand and supply do not operate in a vacuum, right? There are always extraneous factors. Specifically, in this case, the most congestion is during the commute. These people aren't choosing to take a joy ride. These are trips deemed necessary for their lives. Congestion isn't going to deter them.Yes, demand will be reduced, dramatically in the HOT lane, and overall. The congestion in the remaining lanes will deter some traffic.
You fail at understanding that time is money. People value their time. Being stuck in traffic is a time cost, and as that cost rises, demand drops. Gridlock reaches an equilibrium just like pricing does. There is a point of frustration where people stop using the road, we have already gotten to that point now with our horrendous traffic problems.
HOT lanes allow you to decide whether you prefer a dollar cost or a time cost. Both will impact demand.
Go back and take the class again. This time study.
You do realize that demand and supply do not operate in a vacuum, right? There are always extraneous factors. Specifically, in this case, the most congestion is during the commute. These people aren't choosing to take a joy ride. These are trips deemed necessary for their lives. Congestion isn't going to deter them.Yes, demand will be reduced, dramatically in the HOT lane, and overall. The congestion in the remaining lanes will deter some traffic.
You fail at understanding that time is money. People value their time. Being stuck in traffic is a time cost, and as that cost rises, demand drops. Gridlock reaches an equilibrium just like pricing does. There is a point of frustration where people stop using the road, we have already gotten to that point now with our horrendous traffic problems.
HOT lanes allow you to decide whether you prefer a dollar cost or a time cost. Both will impact demand.
Go back and take the class again. This time study.
Pretty funny from a guy advocating the special lanes for the wealthy just like the Soviets reserved lanes for the Apparatchiks....
Take the communist bullshit to a different thread....
What a crock. People will continue to use highways and drive individually because they find it more convenient than public transit. It's not like most people will be able to not commute to work. Tolls on some lanes will not reduce the overall demand unless there is a viable alternative.Yes, demand will be reduced, dramatically in the HOT lane, and overall. ....
That is empirically false. There is data showing tolls reduce traffic and data showing that excessive congestion reduces traffic. Especially over longer time horizons people adapt by changing their behavior.What a crock. People will continue to use highways and drive individually because they find it more convenient than public transit. It's not like most people will be able to not commute to work. Tolls on some lanes will not reduce the overall demand unless there is a viable alternative.
And your assertion that the convenience of the few wealthy overrule the many is so counter to Canadian values.
If you want a solution that significantly reduces congestion I already proposed it - the entire highway system in the GTA be limited to HOV2+ during rush hour.
Two things.That is empirically false. There is data showing tolls reduce traffic and data showing that excessive congestion reduces traffic. Especially over longer time horizons people adapt by changing their behavior.
We need both a reworking of existing capacity and alternatives.Two things.
One, yes I'm sure tolls do reduce traffic on toll roads...it moves the traffic elsewhere, potentially to roads less desirable to have it on.
Two, you already said that Toronto is the longest commute in North America. If people haven't adapted their behaviour by now, do you really think increasing congestion a little more is going to change that?
Your solution makes the overall situation worse, while improving it for a few. It's not a solution to congestion. It might be a solution to prioritize traffic. But what we need are substantial alternatives or more capacity, not a re-working of existing capacity.
