James: HOV lanes have to go

Kelly Hayes & Wayne Moore -Castanet Aug 22, 2011
At least one Kelowna City Councillor feels it's time the city told the province just what to do with the HOV experiment.  Graham James says HOV lanes, installed along Harvey Avenue two years ago, are not working and need to be scrapped.  The lanes were designated in September 2009 following completion of the of the Harvey Avenue road-widening project.  As a provincial highway, Harvey Avenue comes under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Highway and Infrastructure.  The HOV lanes were the idea of the province; however, James believes it's time the city stood up and said no more. "It's up to us to say it's not working and we don't want them here," says James.  "It's time we said this is our city, we know best and this is what we like. We should take a firm stance on this and tell them it's not working, let's get rid of this." Mayor Sharon Shepherd recently came out in favour of time restrictions on the HOV lanes, a move James says would only confuse some drivers even more.  "We have three lanes going each way in our city and I think that is ample for this size of city, especially in the fall and the spring," adds James.  "I don't think it's needed. I don't even think it's needed in the summer." James says High Occupancy Lanes, restricted to transit buses, motorcycles and vehicles with two or more occupants, is an example of green washing 'at its finest.'  "It's businesses, municipalities, governments saying it's good for you because it's green. A lot of times it's not financially viable." "We are spending millions and million of dollars on buses and we have less than three percent ridership." He says a resolution from council encouraging the province to remove the lanes would be helpful, but isn't holding his breath.  "I don't know if it would pass with this council but I'm more than prepared to put that suggestion forward."