Autoblog

CurbTXT lets San Franciscans communicate via license plates

Michael Harley — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 08:29:00 EST

Have you ever had the urge to warn the owner of a vehicle that they have unknowingly parked illegally, and are about to get towed? How about wanting to contact someone whose car is parked dangerously or blocking you in a driveway?

Three guys in San Francisco have come up with a solution to a city slicker's everyday problem, and the answer is called CurbTXT. In a nutshell, participants register their vehicle's license plate number online and then affix a small sticker to the vehicle identifying them as a fellow partaker in the program. If one happens upon a vehicle wearing the C-Text insignia, doing something against the grain of society's conformity, they are able to send an anonymous SMS-based text to the owner of the car or truck by simply punching in a license plate number. For those with privacy concerns, the sender does not have to be registered, and the personal information of the sender and recipient are kept anonymous, unless the the sender identifies themselves.)

While the program is interesting, it is obviously only effective with widespread use (as of now, the service has been used to send "dozens" of messages). That said, the company is in fast-forward mode to register as many vehicles as possible in the San Francisco area. If it gets enough traction, this innovative new way to help fellow motorists avoid parking fines and towing could be coming your way.

CurbTXT lets San Franciscans communicate via license plates originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Jan 2013 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ken Block's San Francisco-shot Gymkhana 5 to debut on July 9

John Neff — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 15:32:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Videos, Hatchback, Ford, Racing

Ken Block is YouTube gold, that much we know. Having accumulated 140+ million views for his Gymkhana videos over the years, the man can clearly attract some eyeballs with his behind-the-wheel shenanigans. The last installment, the fourth in the series so far, was by far his biggest and boldest production, sporting a Hollywood theme with special effects and musical numbers. Some felt it strayed too far from the highly skilled hooning that got him where he is today, which was the likely reason his team recently released a re-edited version (scroll down to watch) with less of the Hollywood glam and glitz.

It also might be why Gymkhana 5 will take place in the vertically diverse city of San Francisco, CA. The location itself will be a co-star of Block's latest video venture, which will debut on the DC Shoes YouTube channel on July 9. Block's Ford Fiesta H.F.H.V. rally car will be again be his ride of his choice, and we're told the video will feature a surprise special guest and a few world records, as well. Block is no doubt hoping he can enjoy the premier with X Games gold in his hands, as he'll be competing in the Rallycross competition against the world's best - names like Travis Pastrana, Tanner Foust and current Rallycross points leader Marcus Grönholm - on July 1.

Continue reading Ken Block's San Francisco-shot Gymkhana 5 to debut on July 9

Ken Block's San Francisco-shot Gymkhana 5 to debut on July 9 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Jun 2012 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Judge gives car thief break, thief gives judge's car a break-in

Chris Shunk — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Humor

Stealing cars is (obviously) against the law, and getting caught usually translates into a significant prison term. We're guessing the crime is just a bit stiffer if you're caught attempting to swipe the ride of a judge, especially if you just left her court room.

SF Gate reports that Judge Lillian Sing had just finished giving convicted felon Phillip Bernard a break after he missed some probation requirements when the gentleman walked out of the court room and used a weighted sock to smash a car window in the court parking lot. Of course, it happened to be the judge's vehicle, and Bernard timed his malfeasance so that two police officers just happened to be walking by when the incident occurred. We're guessing the move was either a string of complete stupidity or the 32-year-old homeless man actually wanted to go back to jail.

It should come as no surprise that Bernard is back behind bars and we're guessing the good judge probably won't be so lenient the next time she sees him.

Judge gives car thief break, thief gives judge's car a break-in originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Car crash turns Lombard Street into World's Most Crooked Waterfall

Chris Tutor — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 15:21:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Humor

Claimed by some to be the crookedest road in the world, San Francisco's Lombard Street briefly became the crookedest waterfall in the world last Saturday.

The driver of a silver Buick told a resident of the street that he swerved to avoid a car of tourists in front of him and ran down a fire hydrant at the very top of the hill. Water streamed 14 feet into the air and gushed down and through the street's eight switchbacks.

Greg Brundage, told the San Francisco Chronicle, "If you had a raft, you could have ridden down the street."

We're surprised no one tried and hope we get a call the next time Lombard's flooded. One of our more adventurous staffers will be right over to brave the rapids.

Check out the story at The San Francisco Chronicle for more on the Lombard splash of a crash and more photos.

Car crash turns Lombard Street into World's Most Crooked Waterfall originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 15:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW DesignworksUSA gets on track with San Francisco BART contract

Noah Joseph — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 12:03:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, BMW, Design/Style

BMW: Bus, Metro, Walk. That was the tongue-in-cheek acronym we used to refer to public transport back in Montreal where this blogger grew up, but it's San Francisco that's about to have its underground mass transit system overhauled by BMW.

The Bay Area Rapid Transit System (BART) is the fifth-largest urban train system in the country, but its fleet is the oldest. That's why, according to reports, the transit commission has turned to BMW DesignworksUSA to give it a full overhaul.

The contract reportedly includes redoing the exterior and interior of the rail cars, as well as the operator's controls and the PA system at each of BART's 44 stations. This won't be the first time that BMW's design consulting subsidiary has taken on such a project, having recently undertaken a similar overhaul together with Siemens on the metro system in Warsaw, Poland, pictured above.

BMW DesignworksUSA gets on track with San Francisco BART contract originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 24 Jul 2011 12:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz recreates famous photos with Gull Wings and Golden Gate Bridge

Noah Joseph — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 09:31:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Gullwings at the Golden Gate - Click above for high-res image

They don't build 'em like they used to. The unofficial slogan of classic car owner's clubs around the world may just as well apply to Fort Point, the U.S. military installation at the foot of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge. Fifty years ago, the Gull Wing Group - a club for owners of Mercedes-Benz's iconic 300 SL - gathered at the fortress for a group photo. And fifty years later they've come back for a reunion.

With a little help from Mercedes-Benz USA, the Gull Wing Group assembled nearly 100 Gullwings and 300 SL Roadsters at the site where the original photo was taken. And to mark the occasion, MBUSA is donating 125 scholarships for local kids to participate in the San Francisco Recreation and Parks department's summer camp programs. It's as nice a way to mark a milestone as we've seen. Read more about it in the press release after the jump and scope out the reunion photo in full resolution by clicking above.

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz recreates famous photos with Gull Wings and Golden Gate Bridge

Mercedes-Benz recreates famous photos with Gull Wings and Golden Gate Bridge originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Last domestic car dealership in San Francisco shuts its doors

Zach Bowman — Wed, 11 May 2011 13:59:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Ford, Earnings/Financials

According to The San Francisco Chronicle, the very last domestic dealership in the greater San Francisco area closed its doors a little over 10 days ago. Previously, San Francisco Ford, Lincoln, Mercury was the only dealership selling new products with an American badge on the grille in all of the 47.6 square miles of the city (the Chrysler-Jeep dealer shown above went bust in 2008). Ford took over operations at that dealer almost three years ago after the original owners walked away. After talks with various other local franchise owners fell through, Ford has finally cut off the lights for good.

But domestic dealers have faced a tough climate in San Francisco for years thanks to a much larger share of import sales compared to the rest of the country. According to one source quoted by the San Francisco Chronicle, import vehicles outsell their domestic counterparts 4:1 in the Bay area.

Those rare San Francisco domestic owners will now have to travel outside of the city for their factory maintenance and repair, which likely won't do anything to help American manufacturers better their outlook in the near future.

Last domestic car dealership in San Francisco shuts its doors originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 May 2011 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tanner returns in Driver: San Francisco

Zach Bowman — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 18:28:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Toys/Games

Driver: San Francisco - Click above to watch video after the jump

Get excited, kids. The Driver franchise is back with a new chapter, and this time the story takes the damage to San Francisco. Our good friends over at Joystiq got to spend a little time behind the controller of the game ahead of its launch. The storyline picks up after the conclusion of Driv3r, which means we're done playing around in the late '70s. Ubisoft Reflections has gone through the trouble of rendering a fair portion of down town, Marin County, East Bay and Treasure Island for our tormenting pleasure, though according to Joystiq, that's not the most interesting part of the gameplay.

Early in the action, our hero Tanner winds up in a coma and spends the rest of the story line haunting San Francisco and possessing random drivers to track down the infamous Jericho. Apparently players can snap up any vehicle they see simply by lining up a reticle and pressing a button. It sounds a little shaky to us, but that doesn't mean we won't light a few hours of our life on fire by flopping down on the couch with Driver: San Fracisco when it lands this August. Hit the jump for a video.

[Source: Joystiq]

Continue reading Tanner returns in Driver: San Francisco

Tanner returns in Driver: San Francisco originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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San Francisco garage is a hidden gem

Aaron Richardson — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Etc., Videos

San Francisco hidden garage - Click above to view video after the jump

The only thing separating this urban San Francisco garage from true brilliance might be the gaudy "No Parking" sign plastered to it. While the sign is definitely useful for keeping pesky commuters from parking in front of your well-disguised garage, it kills just a little of the structure's mystique.

That said, the garage door/facade arrangement's double-hinge operation is nothing short of masterful, and we shudder to think how much time, money and blood sweat and tears the setup took to pull off. Once the door has swung out of the way, it reveals a surprisingly large amount of space, for any number of automotive shenanigans, without the threat of passerby getting a peak at your toys.

For privacy, a drool-worthy D.I.Y. ethic, and not scarring the street with another ugly garage door, this workspace is is right up there near the top of the heap. True, its practical purposes may be somewhat limited, but to those who appreciate this kind of engineering, that should be of little concern. See the garage in action after the jump. Thanks to all for the tips!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading San Francisco garage is a hidden gem

San Francisco garage is a hidden gem originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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San Francisco adopting demand-based parking system with pricing up to $18/hr?

Jeff Glucker — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal

Have you ever found yourself cursing at a parking meter because it wants $2.00 of your hard earned change? Residents of San Francisco do not feel your pain. A new demand-based system is getting ready to be tested, which, during certain special events, could drive the hourly parking rate up to $18.

That (insane) $18 charge will only occur when demand for parking is at a fevered pitch, such as it is during Fleet Week when the Navy's in town. Normal charges, however, will range from a low of $0.25 per hour up to $6.

Sensors in the parking meters will monitor parking space availability, and hourly pricing will then be dictated according to the perceived demand. The project is called SF Park, and it's currently funded to run for two years. Perhaps the name SF Gouge is more appropriate.

[Source: KTVU.com | Image: OrinRobertJohn/Flickr, CC 2.0]

San Francisco adopting demand-based parking system with pricing up to $18/hr? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pagani Huayra U.S. dealer network announced, both located in California

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 18:39:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Performance, MISC

Pagani Huayra - Click above for high-res image gallery

This is a brief announcement for the wealthy-elite amongst us. Pagani has announced that there will be two locations in the United States where the purchase of a Huayra will be possible. Should you be interested in procuring such a vehicle, we hope you like California.

The Auto Gallery of Beverly Hills and British Motor Cars of San Francisco have been selected as Pagani's official jumping-off point here in the U.S. Both locations will sell the Huayra, yet neither location will keep a vehicle in stock. A demo car will be stateside but it will be relegated to press events - you have our contact information, Pagani - and select client viewings.

Pagani will examine a need for the addition of more dealers to its U.S. distribution network. In the meantime, Huayra deliveries coordinated through the two California locations will begin arriving towards the beginning of 2012. No word yet on the Huayra's official price tag but bring quite a bit extra to cover the 9.75 percent sales tax in Beverly Hills or 9.50 percent sales tax in San Francisco.

Gallery: Pagani Huayra: Geneva 2011

Photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Pagani]

Continue reading Pagani Huayra U.S. dealer network announced, both located in California

Pagani Huayra U.S. dealer network announced, both located in California originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 18:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: San Francisco's 1989 Earthquake from the CHP's point of view

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos

CHP responds to the '89 San Francisco Earthquake - Click above to watch video after the jump

On October 17, 1989 at approximately 5:04 pm Pacific Standard Time, the San Andreas Fault shifted and a massive earthquake struck the San Francisco Bay Area. Called the Loma Prieta Earthquake, it was the largest seismic event for this fault-line since 1906. Sixty-three people lost their lives and nearly 4,000 were injured. The physical damage caused by the quake was estimated to cost around $11 billion, but of course the mental and emotional toll could never be tallied.

Shortly after the earthquake struck, the California Highway Patrol sprung into action. The efforts of the CHP, as well as the devastation caused by the quake, were captured in a 22 minute, 58 second video that is part of the public record. It's an intriguing look back at an extremely difficult moment in California's history that will never be forgotten by those who witnessed it firsthand. Click past the jump to view the clip.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: San Francisco's 1989 Earthquake from the CHP's point of view

Video: San Francisco's 1989 Earthquake from the CHP's point of view originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Dec 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In Da Clubster: San Francisco design student beats Mini to speedster punch

Noah Joseph — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertible, Mini, Design/Style

Mini Clubster S design study by Richard Mitchell - Click above for image gallery

Variety is the spice of life - or so they say, but that seems to be the case over at BMW's Mini division, where the variants of their entertaining little runabout have been pouring out like Cristal in the V.I.P. Room. First came the hatchback, then the cabrio, then the Clubman, a crossover is nearly here, a rally version is rumored to be under consideration, and a coupe concept was just unveiled the other day. But before the party's over, Mini is expected to make a slick little speedster with a sportier flair than its existing convertible. That car could be just around the corner, but one student got tired of waiting and designed one himself.

Rather than simply Photoshopping a more rakish windshield onto the production cabrio (Mini's new coupe concept hadn't been shown when this concept was germinated), Richard Mitchell - a transportation design graduate from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco - instead conceptually started with the BMW 1 Series platform to give his design, called the Clubster S, a longer profile with rear-wheel-drive. Mitchell combined typical Mini touches with design attributes from other examples from England's deep roadster back catalog, and built it into a compelling 1:5 scale clay model, which you can check out along with a series of renderings in the gallery below.

Gallery: Mini Clubster S design study by Richard Mitchell

[Source: DeviantART]

In Da Clubster: San Francisco design student beats Mini to speedster punch originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Keeping Drivers at Bay: San Francisco mulls congestion charge

Noah Joseph — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:33:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Green

Boris Johnson for Mayor of... San Francisco? Our favorite municipal chief executive may be taking his time in dismantling the congestion charge in London, but his services may soon be needed in the City by the Bay, as local bureaucrats there contemplate instituting a new charge for motorists wishing to enter - or leave - the city's downtown core.

Driving in San Francisco is already quite an ordeal, and it's listed as the second most congested city in the United States. Motorists already have to pay tolls to cross the bridge and exorbitant parking fees, but the new initiative in the notoriously environmentally-friendly haven in Northern California (a similar initiative to that which failed in New York), could achieve its purpose of deterring motorists from driving downtown altogether. Mayor Gavin Newson is in favor of the plan - which would involve charging cars $3 on the way in as well as on the way out - as is County Transportation Authority director Jose Luis Mosovich, who likens Hurricane Katrina, the economic crisis, global warming, and yes, even terrorism to the city's burgeoning traffic crisis.

[Source: Los Angeles Times | Photo: Panoramio]

Keeping Drivers at Bay: San Francisco mulls congestion charge originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari California spotted in... California, where else?

Noah Joseph — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 10:59:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Convertible, Performance, Supercars, Ferrari

Click for more of the Ferrari California in San Francisco

This was bound to happen sooner or later, and sooner it is: still over a month before its official public unveiling at the Paris Motor Show in October, the new Ferrari California has been spotted in its element: the streets of San Francisco.

The car was ostensibly there for a promotional photo shoot, but its presence in Northern California this close to Pebble Beach makes us wonder if Ferrari isn't planning an early peek on the putting green in Monterey. Whether at Pebble or Paris, we'll be there to bring you the latest, so stayed tuned. In the meantime check out the (admittedly blurry) photos in the gallery below.

Gallery: Ferrari California in San Francisco

[Source: Thomas Pix on Flickr via WCF]

Ferrari California spotted in... California, where else? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Aug 2008 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lexus Lanes coming to California's Bay Area

Noah Joseph — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:19:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal

Officials are hard at work trying to alleviate the notorious traffic congestion in California. Across the state, drivers sit still in traffic while carpool lanes sit empty, underused by public transit and vehicles carrying multiple passengers. The solution for the Bay Area, as the Metropolitan Transportation Commission sees it, is to allow solo motorists to pay for using the carpool lanes.

The commission is working up a proposal that would start with a pilot project in 2010 or early 2011 on I-680 S over the Sunol Grade and in both directions on I-580 between Livermore and the I-680 interchange. To implement the project over the entire 12-highway system would require the approval of state lawmakers (who are currently considering such a bill for Sacramento), as well as an investment of an estimated $3.7 billion. That would be recuperated and then some in the long run, generating an estimated $6 billion over the course of 25 years, the balance of which would be reinvested into the transportation network. If implemented, drivers running late and motivated to pay the fee would be able to move into the carpool lane at designated spots and pay with in-car transponders. Although the fees have yet to be determined, they are estimated at between 20-60 cents per mile at the outset of the program, eventually ramping up to as much as $1 per mile by 2030. Similar systems in place in southern California got the nickname "Lexus Lanes" because of the perception that the rich would use them all the time, leaving those with less means stranded in traffic. However officials cite studies that indicate that the system would be used by a wide cross-section of the socio-economic populace.

[Source: SF Chronicle via All Cars, All the Time, Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty]

Lexus Lanes coming to California's Bay Area originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Commute Helper gets you into carpool lane for $10

John Neff — Tue, 15 May 2007 16:05:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

I have a brother who spends a good 50% of his time daydreaming about how to make money with inventions no one has thought of yet. Despite my protest that all the good stuff's been invented already, he continues to concoct imaginary money makers. I need to introduce my brother to this guy from San Francisco, who earns $100 to $300 a day from his invention.

This highly lucrative produce is his own ass, which he rents out to San Fran commuters who are willing to pay him to get a pass to drive in the car pool lane. The idea came to him when he was stuck in traffic one day watching people zip by in the far left lane. He decided to rent himself out for $10 to $20 a trip so that other people who didn't want to sit in traffic for two hours could bypass jams in the fast moving car pool lane.

The first time he walked out on to the freeway entrance with a sign that read, "Traffic is bad. Spend 2 hours or pay me $10 and get there in 20 minutes." It worked, and afterward he left his first paying customer, walked to the other side of the freeway, and caught a paying gig back to where he started. With business in full swing, he reportedly makes 2 to 3 roundtrips during the morning commute and 3 to 5 round trips during the evening rush, and if there's an accident that slows traffic even further, he may double his price. Genius, pure genius.

Thanks for the tip, Mike!

[Source: Personal Finance Advice]

The Commute Helper gets you into carpool lane for $10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 May 2007 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Team Autoblog crashes the BYOBW event in S.F., literally

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 13:05:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos

Click the image above for our gallery.

We brought you our Big Wheel build up yesterday and now, we proudly present you with our 93-image gallery and video from Sunday's Bring Your Own Big Wheel (BYOBW) event in San Francisco.

According to the organizer, there was a lot of publicity right before the event and because of all the coverage, they had a record turnout. What originally began as a dozen friends temporarily closing down Lombard for a short trip down memory lane, has morphed into something even the original participants would have never imagined. Well over 100 Big Wheel-toting adolescents (mentally, not physically) were cheered on by over 2,000 spectators, as the crashed and careened their way down the street. As the organizer told us before the race began, "I'm happy we have this kind of turnout, but I don't have a permit and I don't have insurance, so please be safe and keep the Hell of the resident's shrubs."

The video is posted after the jump, along with a pic of yours truly making my way through turn three. Enjoy!

Gallery: BYOBW

Many thanks to Melissa Smith for manning the cameras while we were channeling our inner seven-year-old.

Continue reading Team Autoblog crashes the BYOBW event in S.F., literally

Team Autoblog crashes the BYOBW event in S.F., literally originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Apr 2007 13:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Got scent strips? Bus shelters don't anymore

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 14:32:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

Wow, those cookies disappeared quickly. Just a day after adding scent strips to bus shelter advertisements, the "Got Milk?" people pulled them down. The new San Francisco campaign used several bus shelters with scented adhesive strips exuding the aroma of freshly baked cookies. The strips are similar to the ones most of us know from magazine advertisements for perfume or cologne. It was believed that these were the first outdoor use of such technology.

But as quickly as they appeared, the ads have gone away. Apparently there was some concern about food and scent allergies, and a lack of respect for the hungry and homeless, and therefore the strips were promptly removed. They were part of a campaign by the California Milk Processor Board, creators of the famous "Got Milk?" ads and their milk mustaches that have graced celebrity upper lips for 13 years.

Bad enough to be stuck using public transportation, but to have to endure the smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies that you can't locate and devour, now that's plain rude.

[Source: Reuters]

Got scent strips? Bus shelters don't anymore originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Dec 2006 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Study: San Francisco's HOV lanes increase traffic congestion

Chris Paukert — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 07:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Safety

A new study of San Francisco's high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes has revealed something disturbing: more congestion. According to researchers at UC Berkeley and Cal State University, East Bay, in a 100 mile sample section of freeway, HOV lanes have counter-intuitively led to an increase in traffic congestion.

The study utilized data collected from sensors embedded in the pavement over 4.5 years between 2001 and 2005. As San Francisco's HOV lanes are only active for 8-10 hours per day, traffic could be measured both with and without the restriction in place, allowing for the comparison.

What they found was that not only was there no increase in carpooling, but that that when HOV lanes were 'active', traffic capacity decreased by 20-percent by increasing congestion on other lanes. A report from 2005 also noted that in areas where HOV lanes are not separated from general traffic, accident rates increase by some 50-percent.

[Sources: TheNewspaper.com, CalAcademy.org]

Study: San Francisco's HOV lanes increase traffic congestion originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Apr 2006 07:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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