QUESTION:
With all the new construction work at the north end of the Lions Gate Bridge, I am just a bit unsure of something as it relates to motorcycle traffic.
Are motorcycles allowed in the dedicated bus lane or not? Usually there are signs in the HOV and bus lanes that state "motorcycles OK," but that sign is not present in this area.
Please confirm one way or the other.
Thanks,
Steve Belch North Vancouver
Dear Mr. Belch:
Thank you for your question.
Let's first cover off a couple of definitions. The Motor Vehicle Act defines a High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) as a bus or a vehicle carrying the minimum number of people specified by a sign allowing it to use an HOV lane. In other words, an HOV is defined in part by the sign attached to an HOV lane - in some cases a vehicle carrying two or more people will fit the definition, in others, only a vehicle carrying three or more will.
HOV lanes are not to be confused with bus lanes, which are lanes specified for use by buses only.
The act defines an HOV lane as a lane on a laned roadway that is designated by way of a sign for exclusive use by buses or by vehicles satisfying the occupancy requirements set by the sign.
Except to make a right turn, a vehicle that does not qualify as an HOV for a given HOV lane may not use the lane. A driver who wishes to make a right turn and needs to cross an HOV lane to do so may need to merge into the HOV prior to making the turn. This is allowed.
The turn, however, must be made at the first intersection reached. Cheaters will often wrongly use an HOV lane in anticipation of making a right turn four blocks ahead.
There are a few exceptions to the occupancy rules outlined above. A marked vehicle responding to a disabled vehicle, a tow truck for example, may use the HOV lane. Drivers of emergency vehicles while in an emergency, and certain specified medical delivery vehicles may also us HOV lanes, as may police officers on active duty.
Also allowed are operators of bicycles, motorcycles, taxis and HandyDart vehicles.
In the case of motorcycles, consider this the default: they are allowed to use HOV lanes. The only time this is not the case is if there is a sign that says they may not.
One further detail must be covered. The above applies for all roads except the Trans Canada Highway, which is set apart in the legislation and has slightly different rules.
For obvious reasons, there is no right turn provision.
There is also no caveat that prohibits a motorcycle from using the HOV if specified by a sign. Bicycles are not permitted in HOV lanes on the Trans Canada.
I should mention that a baby qualifies as a passenger, however a baby still in the womb does not. Dogs are not passengers, and neither are inflatable dolls, as one driver in the Lower Mainland recently discovered. Also not qualifying: a headrest with a wig or a baby seat with a bag of groceries wearing a hat. The fine for an infraction is $109.
Peter DeVries
District West
Response Sergeant
North Vancouver RCMP
Follow Peter on Twitter at www. twitter.com/rcmpdevries
Email questions to editor@ nsnews.com.
