As both a motorcycle…

As both a motorcycle instructor and motorcycle enthusiast, with years of riding around the world, it is so strange that we do not allow motorcycles in the HOV lanes given that the purpose of the HOV lane is to increase the flow of traffic particularly during heavier traffic times by incentivizing efficient means of transport (in this case higher occupancy per vehicle).

A motorcycle achieves the same net goal by taking up less room on the roadway, while at the same time achieving the added benefits of much higher gas mileage (better for the environment).

More importantly, though, as a rider is that the HOV lanes are far safer places for motorcycles to be traveling as it reduces our risks in the following ways:

- no chance of a vehicle lane changing from the less not seeing us
- better flowing traffic with less stop and go, meaning fewer opportunities to be struck from behind by a distracted driver
- with designated lane change regions along the HOV corridor there is less chance of vehicles lane changing into a motorcycle from the right (if the drivers respect the entry/exit zones to the HOV lane
- less chance of heat exhaustion due to sitting stationary in warm temperatures in stopped traffic without the benefit of AC that other vehicles have

Given all of the above its no wonder most other countries allow motorcycles, even with just a single rider, to utilize the HOV lanes.

Please make this change.