The HOV Lanes are creating more problems than those on the highway--and given that the Pan Am Games have not even begun, we most likely haven't seen anything yet.
1. Rob Ford admits he uses the HOV when driving solo: In a media scrum at Toronto City Hal today, Ford admitted to using the HOV lanes when driving solo, calling them "a disaster," and a "pain in the rear end." His words of advice? "You've gotta watch the cops over your shoulder." Obviously Ford feels entitled as he veers in and out of the lanes to avoid a fine; but not everyone feels they can do that--perhaps a more sensitive conscience. Has Ford, as a former leader of Toronto, just set a precedent? Has the media passive-aggressively sought to call into question the authority of the HOV lanes by reporting this story? Will there be an increase in single-occupancy vehicles along the HOV lanes as a result? We'll have to see. But one thing we can be sure of: If we see a guy in a red Adidas jump suit charging in and out of the HOV lanes in a veering Cadillac Escalade, we can bet money that it's Rob Ford.
2. A man, a couple of dummies, and the HOV: A man was charged today with violating the 3-person minimum of the HOV lanes after he was caught with two mannequins disguised as passengers. Absurdly, the occupants wore seatbelts (they were mannequins, not crash-test-dummies), and didn't receive any further fines for the deception. Violating HOV lane policy gets you a $110 fine and 3 demerit points.
3. Mannequins for rent: The man charged today is only one instance of a trend of people renting out mannequins for the HOV lanes. A salesman has been receiving a greater number of hits on his mannequin rental ads on kijiji--at $40 a month, it's a steal to be able to coast along the HOV lanes.
4. Occupants for rent: Two young Georgetown residents are offering their carpool services to anyone who wants to speed along the HOV lanes: At $55 per one-hour trip, you can legitimately ride the lane. One foresees a greater number of business-savvy people providing similar services, and driving the price down in the process. Within the next couple of weeks, one could be coasting down the HOV lanes with legitimate occupants for about $10/hour. Not a bad deal!
5. HOV Lanes hitting road after Pan Am: According to a spokesperson for the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, the HOV lanes will be rescinded after the Pan Am Games; however, it has been intimated that the "pain in the rear end," (echoing again Ford's disfavour of them) is an experiment for longer-term plans. If this is the case, Rob Ford won't have to look over his shoulders for the cops--at least not for violating HOV laws.
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