If you’re currently looking for seasonal employment, your best bet may not be as conventional as landscaping or manning a garden centre. All you’ll need for this gig? Your body.
In light of the new HOV lane regulations, which prevent any vehicle with fewer than three passengers from using the far left lane of the Gardiner Expressway during high-traffic commuting hours, people have began advertising their bodies online to skirt the rules.
And that’s not even the most creative solution.
According to a story written by the Toronto Star, since the implementation of the HOV lanes, mannequin sales in the GTA have drastically spiked. A quick Google search will reveal that the phenomenon has inspired dozens of Kijiji and Craigslist salesmen cornering the market with listings like “HOV Lane Mannequins For Rent.” Reddit users have also jumped on board with a thread titled “Some Torontonians are using mannequins to bypass HOV lane restrictions” mainly to applaud the problem-solving skills of our great citizens. They’ve also offered clever alternatives, such as a fictional app called “Fuber” to match drivers with seeking that three-person quota.
And two Georgetown residents have already jumped at the chance to make lemonade from lemons. According to the Star, Michael Burton and Kris Chaput, both 26, posted a Kijiji ad offering to sit in on customers’ commutes for the low, low price of the right to snack, input on 50 per cent of the playlist and $55/hour. These solutions may seem far-fetched, but there’s not much Torontonians won’t do to save themselves from taking four hours to drive 50 kilometres.
Would you take these measures to ride the HOV lanes? Let Vv Magazine know in the comments below, or tweet us @ViewtheVibe.