Toronto City Council HOV decision - Nov 28

[Brian P]

Hello,

In the past you have contacted me regarding (or expressed interest in) motorcycles and scooters. I am a Councillor at the City of Toronto, and have advocated for motorcycle and scooter riders. Last year I was successful in getting City Council to change the rules for motorcycle and scooter parking. These vehicles are now allowed to park at "pay & display" metered spaces free of charge.

In April, 2007 I brought forward a Motion (attached), requesting that City staff report on "amendments to allow motorcycles and scooters with one rider to use HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) lanes..."

This item is on the agenda of the City's Public Works & Infrastructure Committee, schedule on Wednesday, November 28, 9:30 a.m. at Toronto City Hall (100 Queen Street, 2nd Floor, Committee Room 1).

Please view this link to the Committee agenda and the background document (Item PW 11.8, pages 6 & 7 of the document):

http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2...28-pw11-ar.pdf

Committee members need to hear from people who are interested in this issue, and who want motorcycles and scooters with one rider to be allowed to drive in HOV lanes. The staff report recommends that current restrictions on the use of the City's HOV lanes NOT be amended to permit the use of these lanes by motorcycles and scooters with one rider. Given this recommendation, I urge you to consider appearing before the Committee to make a 5-minute deputation (your verbal comments). Committee members need to hear from you as to why allowing motorcycles and scooters in HOV lanes is a good idea.

If you are part of an association or large group, it would be prudent for you to decide on 1-2 people whom you would like to be your spokesperson(s), rather than have a large number of people make deputations.

If you wish to make a deputation at the November 28 Public Works and Infrastructure Committee meeting, you must contact:

Rosalind Dyers, Committee Administrator
416-392-8018, pwic@toronto.ca

If you are unable to make a deputation, perhaps you would consider calling or writing to the members of the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee (listed below), to express your views about this issue. A complete listing of Councillors' contact information is attached.

- Councillor Glenn DeBaeremaeker (Committee Chair)
- Councillor Adam Giambrone (Vice-Chair)
- Councillor Shelley Carroll
- Councillor Mark Grimes
- Councillor Chin Lee
- Councillor John Parker

Thank you for your taking the time to review this information. Please contact my Executive Assistant Nancy MacDonald ( nmacdona@toronto.ca , 416-392-4031) if you have any questions.

Regards,
Councillor Case Ootes
Ward 29, Toronto-Danforth
City of Toronto
Phone: 416-392-4032
email: councillor_ootes@toronto.ca

[D]

fingers crossed***

it would be interesting to use a page from the Govt. ads to prevent accidents.

Remind them, well you say accidents don't happen if ppl plan properly--well here is where the planning was overlooked, so let's fix it

if that fails, break out the posters with horrible bike crashes...

[Brian P]

Does anyone have a way to track down that study which was done in the USA which led to motorcycles being accepted in HOV lanes throughout the USA because it was safer? I remember that such a thing was done, but I don't know where or when.

[Rob MacLennan]

Does anyone have a way to track down that study which was done in the USA which led to motorcycles being accepted in HOV lanes throughout the USA because it was safer? I remember that such a thing was done, but I don't know where or when.

It was The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 that made it mandatory that motorcycles be accepted in HOV lanes on all Federally funded highways, but I don't know what the name of the study was.

[FiReSTaRT]

I'd be willing to show up and present an argument. I'm a decent writer, have absolutely 0 fear of public speaking and look semi-civilized in a monkey-suit and an HB tie

[rizvi]

Write a letter and send it to:
councillor_debaeremaeker@toronto.ca, councillor_giambrone@toronto.ca, councillor_carroll@toronto.ca, councillor_grimes@toronto.ca, councillor_lee@toronto.ca, councillor_parker@toronto.ca, councillor_ootes@toronto.ca

[Draiter]

It was The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 that made it mandatory that motorcycles be accepted in HOV lanes on all Federally funded highways, but I don't know what the name of the study was.

Your wish is my command...

Effect on Congestion and Motorcycle Safety of Motorcycle Travel on High-Occupancy-Vehicle Facilities in Virginia - http://trb.metapress.com/content/w7351k86582k2454/

http://path.berkeley.edu/~cychan/Res...References.pdf

Check it out....

[Akshun]

Ooooh yes!! I sure hope so!!
*fingers crossed*
Ty Brain!

[Pete E]

This happened with HOV lanes in greater Vancouver as well....they forgot about bikes. A motorcycle with 1 person aboard is at 50% capacity, while most cars and all SUV / Minivans need at least 3 people to be at 50% capacity.
Where's the parity, and incentive to use less gas, pollute less, take up less room on the road and in parking lots?

[big_mac_daddy]

Write your letters ppl. Without our support this will not go through.
If this motion is passed maybe we can bring up lane splitting.

[rizvi]

Hello Mr. ,

On behalf of Councillor Case Ootes, thank you for your email. I've forwarded it to the Committee Administrator, and she will ensure that all members of the Public Works & Infrastructure Committee have a copy.

Regards,
Nancy MacDonald
Executive Assistant to
Councillor Case Ootes
Ward 29, Toronto-Danforth
City of Toronto
Phone: 416-392-4032
Community Office Phone: 416-778-CASE (778-2273)
email: councillor_ootes@toronto.ca

[rizvi]

Thank you for your input into this matter.

Councillor Chin Lee
Ward 41 Scarborough - Rouge River
100 Queen St. W. Ste. A-10
Toronto, ON M5H 2N2
Tel: 416-392-1375
Fax: 416--392-1050

[Brian P]

Your wish is my command...

Effect on Congestion and Motorcycle Safety of Motorcycle Travel on High-Occupancy-Vehicle Facilities in Virginia - http://trb.metapress.com/content/w7351k86582k2454/

http://path.berkeley.edu/~cychan/Res...References.pdf

Check it out....

BINGO ! ! ! Thanks for finding that.

Unfortunately I can't make it to this Nov 28 meeting because I'm out of town on business that day. Maybe someone who is good at speaking could give a 2 minute synopsis of this study? just a thought.

[djltoronto]

Here is a snipit from the PDF file linked by the original poster...
Is there any scientific evidence to back this up?
I'm not buying it? The largest SUV on the road has less emmisions than my 500 lb bike crusing down the hwy at 100 kms/hour?
I know that have made advancements, but come on...

Are they comparing a 2007 SUV vs. a 2007 bike with full catalyst?
Or a 2007 SUV vs. a 1950 bike?

Environmental Impacts of Motorcycles and Scooters
In requesting this report on the advisability of allowing motorcycles and scooters in HOV
lanes, the communication includes a statement that these vehicles are “environmentally
friendly in terms of fuel efficiency and reduced emissions.” Although it is generally
accepted that motorcycles and scooters are more fuel efficient, this does not translate into
reduced emissions when compared to automobiles or light trucks, despite the literature
published by at least one motorcycle lobby group. In fact, motorcycles produce more
harmful emissions per kilometre than the largest SUV’s on the road. This is primarily
due to the efficiency of the automobile/light truck engine in processing fuel combined
with its treatment of the resulting emissions when compared to the engine and emission
control systems utilized by motorcycles and scooters.

[Red1]

I hope this is changed to allow us in the HOV lanes. I wish I could make the meeting. Yeah DJ...I wonder what they are basing those emission tests on. Would love to have the make/year/model of the bike they tested.

[z31tt]

Unfortunately I can't make it to this Nov 28 meeting because I'm out of town on business that day. Maybe someone who is good at speaking could give a 2 minute synopsis of this study? just a thought.

That's a shame to hear as you are one of the more well-spoken individuals in this forum. I would offer as well but I'm in the same boat as you. I'm out of town on business.

I think this is an opportunity that cannot be missed. It's just the first step in being heard in the political arena. Is there someone from the CMA that could step in and help us out at this point?

[Dr_Laxative]

425,000$ to replace signs?! WTF? Are they gold plated or something?

Also

It concludes that despite being more fuel efficient than a typical car,
motorcycles produce more harmful emissions per kilometre than automobiles and light trucks.
Therefore, from an environmental perspective, there is no rationale to introduce an amendment
to the existing regulations with respect to the use of HOV lanes to permit motorcycles and
scooters with one rider.

WTF?! I thought this report was suppose to be on our side?

[Rob MacLennan]

That's a shame to hear as you are one of the more well-spoken individuals in this forum. I would offer as well but I'm in the same boat as you. I'm out of town on business.

I think this is an opportunity that cannot be missed. It's just the first step in being heard in the political arena. Is there someone from the CMA that could step in and help us out at this point?

Some of us are fairly well-written, but aren't very good public speakers. I've developed my writing skills quite well, but tend to stammer in a presentation environment. As a result, I'm trying to supply someone who will be going with some written material.

We all contribute in our own way.

[WoBblyCaT]

Some of us are fairly well-written, but aren't very good public speakers. I've developed my writing skills quite well, but tend to stammer in a presentation environment. As a result, I'm trying to supply someone who will be going with some written material.

We all contribute in our own way.

Rob, why not just write a speech and present it by reading it word for word? I'm confident you'd get your point across. If you get nervous u could always imagine everyone naked.

Edit: You could also prepare a "FAQ" with some questions you think would be asked and you would already have an answer for them written down.

[z31tt]

Some of us are fairly well-written, but aren't very good public speakers. I've developed my writing skills quite well, but tend to stammer in a presentation environment. As a result, I'm trying to supply someone who will be going with some written material.

We all contribute in our own way.

If you need a hand with any of the preparations, feel free to shoot me a PM and I'll be glad to help out.