HOV Lanes Actually Work
Another memorable quote from Stefan this week:
It's always been amazing, come to think of it, that there are still people out there who actually believe more roads and more lanes lead to less congestion. It's just not true. It's simply a myth.
Research shows - if you build more roads, more cars and solo drivers will emerge to fill them. Opening up HOV lanes will do nothing more than create another lane of traffic that is completely bottled up.
HOV lanes do work - I know this to be true. I have used them many times. HOV lanes encourage carpooling and vanpooling, and they help make sure buses run on time.
They are much faster than the other highway lanes - and can cut a considerable amount of time off the commute, for people who are willing to travel together.
The DOT has more on why HOV lanes work:
Stefan also says:
They're against it because people like Stefan have been working around the clock to convince them the state just wants to rip them off.
Why does Stefan even bother to come with explanations for how legislators could get voters to support some future package? It's his crowd that only talks about the cost and not the consequences.
Stefan isn't all that unlike Tim Eyman. They share a similar ideology, they attach themselves to the same transportation issues (Monorail, Sound Transit, HOV lanes, you name it) they're frequently wrong, and they seem to have a problem with the truth.
Yesterday's post on HOV lanes generated one of the largest numbers of comments for any post on this blog ever. It's an issue that affects people's daily lives and people feel passionately about it. Only a tiny minority supports HOV lanes, most commenters feel that HOV lanes are a foolish waste of expensive road capacity.Really, Stefan?
It's always been amazing, come to think of it, that there are still people out there who actually believe more roads and more lanes lead to less congestion. It's just not true. It's simply a myth.
Research shows - if you build more roads, more cars and solo drivers will emerge to fill them. Opening up HOV lanes will do nothing more than create another lane of traffic that is completely bottled up.
HOV lanes do work - I know this to be true. I have used them many times. HOV lanes encourage carpooling and vanpooling, and they help make sure buses run on time.
They are much faster than the other highway lanes - and can cut a considerable amount of time off the commute, for people who are willing to travel together.
The DOT has more on why HOV lanes work:
- Reliable travel times. Using HOV lanes means your commute will take approximately the same amount of time each day. This is particularly important for transit buses as their riders and schedules rely upon prompt and consistent travel times.
- Faster trips. HOV lanes are designed to move more people, more quickly than general-purpose highway lanes. While commuters in other lanes are stuck in peak hour traffic, commuters in the HOV lanes usually move at 45 miles per hour or more.
- Save money. Driving in your car alone means you can expect to spend more money on gas, maintenance and repairs than if you shared the expense. On average, people who carpool, vanpool or ride transit cut $3,000 from their annual commute cost.
- Reduced wear and tear on your car. Your vehicle will last longer if you drive less. Carpooling, vanpooling and taking transit all save wear and tear on your car.
- Help the environment. The fewer vehicles on the road, the less pollution. Carbon monoxide from vehicle emissions is the prime component of air pollution in our state.
- Less stress. Sharing the ride can make your commute more pleasant and less stressful. In addition to a faster, more reliable commute in the HOV lane, letting someone else drive gives you time to read, snooze, chat or daydream. Driving with a partner, coworker or friend can make a long commute more lively.
Stefan also says:
The state's big government grandees who are fretting over the likely victory of I-912 might want to consider that HOV lanes are one of the reasons for the public's refusal to pay for yet another gas tax.That, of course, is completely ridiculous. Citizens aren't against this new transportation investment because of HOV lanes.
They're against it because people like Stefan have been working around the clock to convince them the state just wants to rip them off.
Why does Stefan even bother to come with explanations for how legislators could get voters to support some future package? It's his crowd that only talks about the cost and not the consequences.
Stefan isn't all that unlike Tim Eyman. They share a similar ideology, they attach themselves to the same transportation issues (Monorail, Sound Transit, HOV lanes, you name it) they're frequently wrong, and they seem to have a problem with the truth.
