HOV Lane Economics
So, the big story today is the traffic, traffic, traffic. While my train ride took the same seven minutes it always takes, I can sympathize with the commuters’ horror stories of 2+ hour drives from 285 to downtown. However, some of the comments at the AJC blog seem to completely miss the point of the HOV lanes…
“Jane” writes…
In a traffic situation like the one we had today, I think it would REALLY help to open the HOV lanes, just to get the traffic moving a little better. I know that’s not fair to the carpoolers, but in an extraordinary situation like today, it would help the 98% of the rest of us.
Took 2 hrs. 45 min from E. Cobb - open up the HOV lanes to all traffic when these horrendous conventions take place & keep Williams St. moving for god sake.
I’m not sure what these people think the HOV lane is for. Here’s a hint: It’s not a super-special red carpet so that carpoolers can feel better about themselves. It’s an incentive to get cars off the road. And if you removed that incentive, those cars would no longer be off the road. You’re already benefitting from the HOV lane in the form of decreased traffic overall, and we’d negate that benefit if the HOV lanes were to be used by everyone. It’s not that it would be “unfair” to the carpoolers, though it would. It would simply cause less people to carpool in the first place. I don’t know what the statistics are on the effectiveness of the HOV lane at reducing overall traffic, but I imagine it’s a net traffic loss even when you consider that the lane can’t be used by normal commuters.
January 26th, 2007 at 10:52 am
You are 100%; it is so funny how people can show their ignorance so blatantly. I mean, HOV stands for High Occupancy Vehicle, doesn’t it? Opening it up would just leave one more lane backed up.
And for the record (to those two people), that lane isn’t just zooming by traffic… they have a decreased speed/longer wait as well.
I think they should advertise the incentives for carpooling a little more too; perhaps that would shut people like that up.
January 31st, 2007 at 10:00 am
I just don’t understand that line of thinking, AT ALL. It’s like, hmm, let’s put MORE cars in the HOV lane… THAT’LL get traffic moving! Hmmm… in what universe, exactly? Sheesh. Seriously, WHAT is it going to take for certain folks to come out of their Reinforced Fort of Denial and start supporting realistic transit options?
January 31st, 2007 at 10:01 am
Also, LOL, you said “normal computers” instead of “normal communters.” Your geek is showing!!
January 31st, 2007 at 10:07 am
Heh, I actually noticed it and changed it before you even commented.
Oh, and what is a “normal communter”?
January 31st, 2007 at 10:43 am
Touché!
February 13th, 2007 at 11:02 pm
I think the creators of the game “Sim City” had it right. Ultimately, the only way to make a city of any size successful is to do away with roads altogether and have nothing but light rail.
Not that it would work in real life but it’s a nice thought.