There are many reasons…

There are many reasons motorcycles should be permitted to use the HOV lanes with a single rider.

1. Even with just one rider on a motorcycle, the vehicle is at 50% capacity, unlike a car that is currently permitted to use HOV with just two people in it, which is only 28% to 40% depending on whether it's a van or five-passenger vehicle.

2. It is safer for motorcyclists with the extra buffer space between the HOV and the passing lanes.

3. It is safer for motorcyclists to keep moving, which is more likely in HOV, than in stop and go traffic in the other lanes.

4. Motorcycles need to keep moving or they will overheat, traffic tends to move better in HOV than in the other lanes during high traffic volume. Not only can this be costly ($350 for a burned out stator, part cost only not including labour. This has happened to me three times and I rarely even use the highway) If they overheat and have to pull over, the motorcyclist is at great risk of possibly being hit. They are not that visible standing on the side of the road, nor is the motorcycle very visible in comparison to a car which in itself is proven to be at high risk of being hit on the side of the highway.