HOV exemption for motorcycles in MD?

[BKling]

I ride the HOV lanes on RT 267 (Toll Road) out to Dulles from Tyson's and there are no signs giving M/C's the Ok but I have passed aoubt 100 LEO's and am never given a second look. On I-66 the HOV lanes they are clearly marked "Motorcycles OK". I am not sure why all the HOV lanes aren't marked. It certainly woud make things clear.

[Hello Kitty]

Well, 50 from annapolis to the beltway, I have NEVER seen " Motorcycles ok" on any of the HOV signs along the way. To me, that would mean that motorcycles NOT ok. If it doesn't say one can, one shouldn't assume that you *can*. But HOV in MD is ok with bikes.
Really tho, in an empty lane, what difference does it make if it's a bike or a car with one person??

Anyway, read hither........

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/dpwt/transit/others/I-270%20HOV%20Information.asp



What are HOV lanes? HOV lanes are reserved for carpools, vanpools, buses and motorcycles during designated time periods. They are also known as carpool, commuter and express lanes. HOV lanes move more people because of their higher auto occupancies.


Who can use the HOV lanes?
1-270 HOV lanes are designated as HOV-2, meaning motorists, other than motorcyclists, must carpool with at least one other person to use the lane.

You should go for a ride mikey. I'm quite sure they are there. Not on every single HOV sign, but on several of them.

[grogs]

I still haven't received an answer from the MD DOT or SHA on this issue. But, the legislative department at the AMA was nice enough to send this:

Thank you for using the “Contact Us” feature at www.AMADirectlink.com to inquire about the federal regulation that authorizes motorcycles to use HOV lanes with a solo occupant.

The U.S. Code, Title 23, Section 102 Program Efficiencies is where we find the authority granted motorcyclists to use all HOV lanes planned, designed, constructed or maintained with federal highway dollars; see http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html ... -000-.html.


Additional resources related to Maryland and HOV lanes:

http://www.mwcog.org/commuter/Bdy-carpool-hov.html

http://www.e-mdot.com/Reauthorization/D ... -26-06.doc


Thanks again for contacting us.

So now we know, and knowing is half the battle

[pjamet]

On 270:

South, I checked the signs, they omitted to mention "Motorcycles OK".

North, there are "Motorcycles OK" signs (I counted three at random place along the HOV lanes) but the sign is an afterthought put up after the original sign was made.

They should be as clear as they are on 395, where the electronic signs clearly state " HOV 3 and Motorcycles"

[kioolt]

On 270:

South, I checked the signs, they omitted to mention "Motorcycles OK".

North, there are "Motorcycles OK" signs (I counted three at random place along the HOV lanes) but the sign is an afterthought put up after the original sign was made.

They should be as clear as they are on 395, where the electronic signs clearly state " HOV 3 and Motorcycles"

The way I see it is that there is no need for a sign if motorcycles are permitted since it is the federal law that they are permitted. I would think that a sign would be needed only if motorcycles are NOT permitted.

[pjamet]

On 270:

South, I checked the signs, they omitted to mention "Motorcycles OK".

North, there are "Motorcycles OK" signs (I counted three at random place along the HOV lanes) but the sign is an afterthought put up after the original sign was made.

They should be as clear as they are on 395, where the electronic signs clearly state " HOV 3 and Motorcycles"

The way I see it is that there is no need for a sign if motorcycles are permitted since it is the federal law that they are permitted. I would think that a sign would be needed only if motorcycles are NOT permitted.

agreed, but not every motorcyclists know of the law (i did not know that it was a federal law) or are used to HOV. It is also wise to inform the cagers as well. They are grumpy when in traffic.

[raysuf]

agreed, but not every motorcyclists know of the law (i did not know that it was a federal law) or are used to HOV. It is also wise to inform the cagers as well. They are grumpy when in traffic.

Ignorance of the law is no excuss!

It is a plausible reason for breaking it.

[georgefalcon]

The trooper was young, and seemed new to the job. The real problem, aside from the obvious inconvenience for me and the subsequent cyclists he encounters, is that when I called him on the motorcycle exemption he became confused, which led to embarrassment, which led him to be curt with me. He was obviously pissed that he didn’t understand the law and was ready to take it out on me. Fortunately, all my paperwork was in order, but had it not been, he would have raked me over the coals. He never apologized, just told me to get out of here.

Maryland troopers, at their trooper academy, have to eat a lot of sh** from the instructors, almost like the kids at our service academies. Having been a cadet at USAFA, I can be fairly sure that one of the things they'd train cadets on is exhibiting self confidence. Somewhere along the line, some pseudo expert decided that looking like you know what you're doing is almost as important as actually knowing, and they've persuaded others of this. Acceptance of this concept by elected leaders should be rooted out of the dark damp corners of government and left in the sun to dry. This issue is not the responsibility of that trooper. It's our responsibility as voters to rid our country of the idea that looking professional equals professionalism.

[georgefalcon]

I thought the law was federal. Part of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act. I suppose there could be local exceptions?

http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freewaymgmt/faq.htm#faq1

Why are motorcycles allowed in some HOV lanes?
Motorcycles are permitted by federal law to use HOV lanes, even with only one passenger. The rationale behind allowing motorcycles to use HOV lanes is that it is safer to keep two-wheeled vehicles moving than to have them travel in start-and-stop traffic conditions. States can choose to override this provision of federal law, if they determine that safety is at risk.

[grogs]

And to finally put this issue to rest here is the response from the SHA:

Thank you for your inquiry regarding the operation of high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes in Maryland. Single-occupant motorcycles are permitted in HOV lanes in Maryland. The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) was signed on August 10, 2005, codified at 23 U.S.C. 166. SAFETEA-LU specifically exempts motorcycles from the HOV occupancy requirements for safety reasons. An HOV fact sheet can be found at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/safetealu/factsheets/hov.htm. States can request exemptions to this allowance through a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) certification process. To date, no state has been certified by FHWA to exclude single-occupant motorcycles from HOV lanes.

If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at 410-545-5654, toll-free 800-209-5014 or via email at arhodes1@sha.state.md.us. I will be pleased to help.

Sincerely,
Amber Rhodes
______________________________________
Amber M.N. Rhodes
Assistant Regional Planner
Regional and Intermodal Planning Division
Office of Planning and Preliminary Engineering
Maryland State Highway Administration

707 N. Calvert Street, Mail Stop C-502
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
410.545.5654
410.209.5025 (fax)
Arhodes1@sha.state.md.us

[henwin]

until there is a sign saying that it is not okay, but the one stating it's okay stands.

and yes it's a federal law and the AMA get reports all the time of people getting pulled and heavily fined for it on 2 wheels.

on 270, north off the beltway doesn't clearly state motorcycles are ok. there is a wee small sign about 3 miles after the diamonds and normal signage that says "motorcycles ok". and then, for the next 15 miles or so...NOTHING.

Apparently you haven't been paying attention! , but there is a sign ON the inner loop before exiting onto 270 N that clearly says "Motorcycles OK".

Edit, fixed the quoting marks, Jim