Vehicles crawl past the nearly empty Pan Am high-occupancy vehicle lanes as morning rush hour traffic crawls in Toronto on Monday, June 29, 2015.Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press
Did you hear? Talking points for this weekend's social chatter
Pan Am Games put motorists on the HOV highway to hell
With one week to go, the road to the start of the Pan American Games is so far paved with angry drivers. High-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes have taken effect on city highways, whereby cars must carry three-plus people in order to take advantage of the priority lanes. Expect much commiseration as you and your friends inevitably arrive at your weekend soirées a little later – and a little angrier. Here's a guide to properly fuelling your hate-on for HOVs.
1. There's no need to invoke the Gardiner Expressway construction season or that guy who hews to the speed limit in cottage-bound one-lane traffic. Let Toronto's usual traffic scapegoats lay low for the summer, so that they may be rested for their post-Pan Am pummelling.
2. Play a game of "Who would I carpool with?" There are no winners, but there is one loser: The person who suggests "Rob Ford."
3. "H to tha izzo, V to tha Iz-Lane." Seize the opportunity to make a pop-culture reference sung to the tune of Jay Z's Izzo (H.O.V.A.).
4. There will be one smug friend who will sing the praises of the TTC. Test their commitment to mass transit by offering them a lift home. Snag two friends for the ride and – ta-da! – you're HOV-ready.
5. Be Debbie Downer and end the conversation on the lowest note: We still have three more weeks of life with HOVs. Enjoy.
Cliff Lee