  Detroithabitater Member Username: Detroithabitater Post Number: 120 Registered: 10-2006 |
When did these spring up? Are they really needed or is it just to keep cars out of the bus lanes? When I lived in Toronto they were everywhere I also noticed that they were HOV+2, meaning you had to have at least 3 in the vehicle. Anybody know anymore about them? Anyone know the detroit policy on them as far as motorcycles/hybrids? Are they anywhere else in the city? I assume this is the part where someone points me to an already started thread that I couldn't find with the search function. peace! | ||
Iheartthed Member Username: Iheartthed Post Number: 2663 Registered: 04-2006 |
I think a motorcycle in an HOV lane would defeat the purpose... | ||
Rugbyman Member Username: Rugbyman Post Number: 237 Registered: 06-2005 |
Michigan and what? It'll be interesting to see if it's actually enforced. | ||
Detroitplanner Member Username: Detroitplanner Post Number: 1545 Registered: 04-2006 |
I noticed those the other day. It might be a temporary thing because of the closure of I-75? It is odd to see them off of a freeway and not in an area where buses bunch. | ||
Transitrider Member Username: Transitrider Post Number: 41 Registered: 01-2007 |
http://www.detroittransit.org/ scroll down one entry to Feb 5. | ||
Tompage Member Username: Tompage Post Number: 55 Registered: 01-2005 |
According to the American Motorcycle Association (and other sources), Federal Transportation Law specifically allows motorcycles to use HOV lanes. Motorcycles are more fuel efficient than cars and SUVs, use fewer resources to build, and do not contribute to congestion like cars and SUVs. One of the great treats of being a motorcyclist and scooterist in Southern California (where I lived for 25 years), is riding in the ubiquitous HOV (called diamond lanes in So Cal) lanes. | ||
Focusonthed Member Username: Focusonthed Post Number: 1680 Registered: 02-2006 |
quote: Sure, if you're talking about semantics. But since a motorcycle is all of, what, 6 feet long, and 2 feet wide, and likely gets over 45mpg, why not let them use it. | ||
Busterwmu Member Username: Busterwmu Post Number: 425 Registered: 09-2004 |
I noticed them going west from I-96 to at least Livernois, I think. Right lane only. Super bright reflective signs in the darkness. I wonder if they did any patching work in that right lane to allow constant travel there.... or how many parked cars there will be there... | ||
Dodgemain Member Username: Dodgemain Post Number: 215 Registered: 04-2005 |
Wow! Hemi Only Vehicle Lanes. Should be a big hit here in the Motor City. | ||
Detroithabitater Member Username: Detroithabitater Post Number: 121 Registered: 10-2006 |
The first one appears (eastbound) just as you cross into Detroit from Dearborn. The last one appears at Rosa parks.....so pretty much the whole length in detroit. But I don't know if it is continuous. | ||
401don Member Username: 401don Post Number: 263 Registered: 11-2007 |
HOV on Michigan Ave? This has got to be a joke. Someone tell them Tiger Stadium closed. The only vehicle with 3 people will be the bus. | ||
Broken_main Member Username: Broken_main Post Number: 1439 Registered: 06-2005 |
I was noticing this today. i took a picture of the signs because I have never seen any signs like this. Thanks guys for the info. | ||
Professorscott Member Username: Professorscott Post Number: 1088 Registered: 12-2006 |
I knew this had been done on Michigan Avenue somewhere but I hadn't known where. I think one of the main reasons for it is to enable express bus service to be more efficient during the I-75 construction; either DDOT or SMART or both is putting in a downriver express service the final leg of which (inbound) is Michigan Avenue. It will be interesting to see, once the I-75 construction kicks off in earnest in a couple weeks, which roads do get choked with traffic. Most of us locals are probably going to avoid MDOT's official drive-way-out-of-your-way detour, I expect. Fort Street will get it but good, but I'm not sure where else. If you need to travel that corridor, just once try making West Vernor part of your detour route, when you're not in a hurry. Very interesting part of Detroit, lots to see and do. | ||
Professorscott Member Username: Professorscott Post Number: 1089 Registered: 12-2006 |
Actually, here's a thought: what would be a good DYer detour? Not the official one, which is silly (but all highway), I want a detour that we who aren't afraid of Detroit can use. Something that will be reasonably quick because nobody but us will use it  If it forces me to go past some nice Mexican or Guatemalan restaurants, all the better. I'm Italian by heritage but I enjoy a nice pupusa now and again. | ||
Gnome Member Username: Gnome Post Number: 712 Registered: 08-2007 |
According to the link provided by TransitRider they have the HOV lanes as part of the I75 construction project. quote: | ||
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine Post Number: 1956 Registered: 05-2005 |
what good is an HOV lane when the the DPD won't likely enforce it? (like countless other civil infractions) its a great idea that we will hopefully see a need for in the near future, but given how poorly a lot of people follow existing traffic laws and rules, and the DPD's ability to enforce them, i'm a bit skeptical that this new one will fly (Message edited by gravitymachine on February 12, 2008) | ||
Gazhekwe Member Username: Gazhekwe Post Number: 1457 Registered: 08-2007 |
Hmmm, detours. I don't like Vernor for commuting to work because it is a very slow street, but it is a good way to go for the commerce. How about Southfield north to Ford Road east to McGraw (Ford turns into McGraw at Wyoming), to Rosa Parks or 14th to either the Boulevard or Michigan? (Message edited by gazhekwe on February 12, 2008) | ||
Ramcharger Member Username: Ramcharger Post Number: 527 Registered: 05-2006 |
So much for the HOV lanes. Oops! State has no law to enforce high-occupancy vehicle lanes | ||
Living_in_the_d Member Username: Living_in_the_d Post Number: 71 Registered: 01-2008 |
Yeah, H.O.V. lane run will be free from Feb25th to Feb 29th. Inbound 6-9 A.M./ Outbound 3-6 P.M. | ||
Iheartthed Member Username: Iheartthed Post Number: 2738 Registered: 04-2006 |
They could temporarily make the HOV lanes into Bus lanes until they add the specific definition of HOV into the laws. | ||
Living_in_the_d Member Username: Living_in_the_d Post Number: 74 Registered: 01-2008 |
Yeah, I agree Iheartthed, I did forget to mention in My last post, that the free runs next week are courtesy of D.D.O.T. | ||
Russix Member Username: Russix Post Number: 70 Registered: 11-2006 |
Funny story, I took the morning express bus down michigan last week. The bus used the left lane(HOV is right lane) cause cars were slowing down in the right lane to turn on/off michigan and DDOT buses were stopping in the right lane. | ||
Blueidone Member Username: Blueidone Post Number: 187 Registered: 03-2007 |
Heard on the news today that there is no way to enforce these lanes, they may have to do away with them. | ||
Mcp001 Member Username: Mcp001 Post Number: 3277 Registered: 11-2003 |
What strike me as odd is that instead of doing something that makes sense, like diverting traffic from I-75 to I-96 to I-94 to Southfield (and visa versa) to get around this mess, they are still able to find new and innovative ways of shaking down/pissing off motorists instead of making the overall process go smoothly. Whomever came up with this ridiculous idea should be fired. | ||
Jonesy Member Username: Jonesy Post Number: 497 Registered: 07-2005 |
Dallas/Fort Worth has dozens of HOV lanes, and make a killing off of ticketing non-compliant vehicles. I remember several drivers got bust using mannequins as passengers. | ||
Charlottepaul Member Username: Charlottepaul Post Number: 2340 Registered: 10-2006 |
"Cook said it likely would take an act by the Legislature to make HOV lanes legally enforceable. He said lawmakers would have to add a definition of HOV lanes or spell out their proper use in the Michigan Vehicle Code." While this still being somewhat humorous, if the HOV lanes are only present in the City of Detroit, why couldn't the city simply enact a traffic law regarding/defing it? Would that not be more simple than doing it at the state level? I could see both being done, long term, but the CofD has a much more immediate need and shouldn't have to wait around for the state to write up what could easily be a local law. | ||
Ptero Member Username: Ptero Post Number: 167 Registered: 12-2005 |
I am guessing that the City cannot enact something for roads that are state trunks. Communities have run up against this when the state changes speed limits even though the locals have no interest in this. | ||
Mcp001 Member Username: Mcp001 Post Number: 3281 Registered: 11-2003 |
That's exactly why it isn't being done (it's a state road). | ||
Karl_jr Member Username: Karl_jr Post Number: 215 Registered: 06-2007 |
Michigan ave. + HOV = Joke. | ||
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine Post Number: 1973 Registered: 05-2005 |
quote: unfortunately in practice, yes. the first day they were to go into effect, i saw two single occupant vehicles folled by a DPD cruiser down the lane, and as far as i could see down the street they weren't pulled over. i think mdot may have overestimated the number of people that would use michigan as an alternate to the 75 closeur | ||
Fishtoes2000 Member Username: Fishtoes2000 Post Number: 425 Registered: 06-2005 |
quote: I had been curious about this a couple years ago and posed the question to Sgt. Lance Cook. He responded: quote: UTC stands for the Michigan State Police's Uniform Traffic Code. I'm not sure about Detroit, but many other municipalities don't have their own set of local road ordnances. Instead they adopt the UTC by reference. http://www.michigan.gov/msp/0, 1607,7-123--36795--,00.html | ||
Living_in_the_d Member Username: Living_in_the_d Post Number: 87 Registered: 01-2008 |
Yeah, You have to give things time to work or not work, then a logical decision can be made, Until then, D.D.O.T. is running the H.O.V. lane run for free this week for anyone who is interested, Inbound 6-9 A.M.., Outbound 3-6P.M. | ||
Living_in_the_d Member Username: Living_in_the_d Post Number: 102 Registered: 01-2008 |
Yeah, Only a few days left to try out the new H.O.V. lane run from D.D.O.T. for no charge. | ||
Diehard Member Username: Diehard Post Number: 356 Registered: 03-2005 |
I drive that stretch of Michigan at least once a week. I noticed that the other lanes are pretty much moonscapes, and I have a low-slung little car, so I cautiously took the HOV lanes last week just to avoid flat tires. Then I asked myself, since there is almost no traffic on this stretch right now, should I be worried? |
