Diamond Lanes (When did they slip this by me)

[BarbACE]

Driving to work along Eglinton Ave. in Scarberia this morning I noticed something interesting. Cops were stopping cars using the diamond lane with too few occupants. I looked up at the signs and lo and behold, there was a picture of a motorcycle and bicycle on the sign!!

No idea when they changed the signs, but this is great news. Anyone else from the Toronto area noticed this?

Barb

[Spirit_1100]

Hey Barb,

Not driven in Toronto in YEARS!!!!...but I have noticed in the states that it is pretty much the norm that motorcycles are allowed in the express lanes. Last year, I rode through downtown Atlanta during rush hour traffic and pretty much zoomed along in the express lane. It sure was nice!!!

Joe

[BarbACE]

I know that there was a reccomendation this past spring to allow bikes to use diamond lanes, but I hadn't heard anything since. Another perk we have here in Toronto is free parking in any legal city parking spot.

Barb

[oliver99]

those diamond lanes are called h.o.v lanes (high occupancy vechile) cars with no less than 2 people are allowed to use these lanes as the sign states.
problem is you can only get in andout of these lanes at certain points and if u get behind a slow driver you are stuck, alot of the time u ar better to just stay in the regular lanes.

[jer0177]

The city of New York has ruled that motorcycles are NOT allowed to use the HOV lanes - even though it's a federal law that we are.

We do have HOV2 and HOV3 lanes - the number indicates the minimum occupancy level for the vehicle.

I don't have an HOV lane to ride to work, however the folks on the other side of the city (hello Kara!) do.

[BarbACE]

HOV lanes and Diamond lanes are not quite the same thing, at least in Toronto.

HOV lanes are on the expressways, leftmost lane and have restricted entry and exit points. They are also under provincial authority.

Diamond lanes are on major city roads, curb lanes. These are under municipal authority.

Which likely explains why we have access to the Diamond lanes, but not the HOV lanes. Toronto is fairly progressive, about some things.

Barb

[jer0177]

Aah - here in the 'states, our HOV lanes are marked by a diamond.

Sorry for the confusion!

[oliver99]

sorry barb i did not realize that u had them in downtown to, i thought u were talking abouton the qew and the 403.

[BarbACE]

Oliver,

There aren't too many streets in the city with diamond lanes, it just happens that one of them, Eglinton, is what I take to work everyday.

I can't wait to get on the bike and go zipping down the diamond lane, dodging busses...cabs....cars coming out of parking lots and side streets... Hmmm, maybe I'll stick to the left lane after all.

Barb

[williewonka]

Originally Posted by BarbACE

Oliver,

There aren't too many streets in the city with diamond lanes, it just happens that one of them, Eglinton, is what I take to work everyday.

I can't wait to get on the bike and go zipping down the diamond lane, dodging busses...cabs....cars coming out of parking lots and side streets... Hmmm, maybe I'll stick to the left lane after all.

Barb

Yup, they did change it. There is a similar diamond land on Dundas just west of the 427. I noticed the motorcycle sign last week. It must be a new thing.