What are HOV lanes?
Since there has not been much work in India on HOV lanes
we have researched from around the world and tried to compile
some infor which is produced below.
High occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, commonly called carpool
lanes, are lanes reserved for people who share the ride
in carpools, vanpools and/or buses or drive a motorcycle.
These lanes are marked with a diamond symbol and HOV signs.
HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) lanes are designed to help
move more people through congested areas. These lanes offer
users a faster, more reliable commute, while also easing
congestion in regular lanes - by moving more people in fewer
vehicles.
| The HOV lane is separated from the other
general traffic lanes by a striped buffer zone. Vehicles
carrying at least two people may enter and exit the
HOV lane only at designated points, clearly identifiable
by wide and closely spaced white broken lines and
diamond symbol pavement markings. |
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Benefits of using HOV lanes
Although our highways are congested
with cars, vans and trucks, they can still carry thousands
more people - just by increasing the number of passengers
in each vehicle. Most people drive with three or four
empty seats, even during the most congested periods
of the day. One solution is to encourage more commuters
to join carpools and take transit rather than drive
alone.
High Occupancy Vehicle lanes have been created specifically
for use by carpools and buses. The lanes are intended
to provide fast, reliable travel for HOV users at
any time of the day - particularly during peak travel
periods when other lanes can be slow and congested. |
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• 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 livelier.
Your Community Benefits:-
• Air Quality Benefits: Reduced vehicle
emissions and improved air quality.
• Managing Congestion: An HOV lane can
handle a lot of growth in demand, whereas once a general
traffic lane reaches capacity, it actually moves fewer vehicles
due to congestion.
• Better use of Infrastructure: One highway
lane can carry 1,500-2,200 vehicles per hour. A lane full
of buses and carpools moves many more people than a general
traffic lane.
• Increased Productivity: Happier, less
stressed, more productive, more reliable workers and students.
• Transit Priority: Buses and transit
riders have priority - transit buses can carry the equivalent
of up to 57 single occupant cars!
• Providing Choices: HOV lanes will make
carpooling and public transit more effective and reliable
choices for Ontario commuters.
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Who can use HOV lanes?
• Buses
• vanpools
• carpools
• motorcycles
• emergency vehicles
Who cannot use HOV lanes?
• Trucks with three or more axels, regardless
of the number of passengers
• people driving
alone, except on segments where new hours of operation
have been implemented
• single drivers
passing vehicles in adjacent lanes
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Vehicle Occupancy Survey
As a precursor to understand the planning for High Occupancy Vehicle lanes, MESN has undertaken a
survey on the important traffic corridors along the city. Investigators standing during peak hours
count the number of vehicle's (cars, taxis and buses) passing by and the number of people in each
vehicle (not for buses).
The study gives a good idea of the number of vehicles passing by on an hourly basis and more
importantly the number of people passing by. We strongly feel that roads are ultimately meant for the
transportation of maximum number of people not cars
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| 1.
Washington State Department of Transportation |
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| This brochure details the importance
of high occupancy vehicle lanes, their current state
of operations and plans for the preservation of and
future improvements to the Washington State Freeway
HOV system.s |
| 2.
Ontario |
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| The Ontario government has invested
more than $100 million in HOV lanes.HOV car pool lanes
are part of the government's plan to create reliable,efficient
infrastructure and strengthen Ontario's prosperity. |
| 3.
United Kingdom |
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| The Highways Agency is to pilot a scheme
to cut congestion and speed-up motorway journeys by
creating lanes for vehicles with two or more passengers. |
| 4.
Georgia Department of Transportation |
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| This site gives information on Georgia
department of transportation High Occupancy vehicle
HOV Lanes TO PROVIDE safe, seamless and sustainable
transportation system that supports its economy ad
is sensitive to its citizens and environment. |
| 5.
Virginia |
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| One has to call Commuter Connections
at 1-800-745-RIDE to join or start carpool or vanpool
in order to qualify for using HOV lanes. Commuter
Connections, the commuter's resource for transportation
alternatives, has a rideshare database and can help
match you with riders who have similar commutes. |
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