To The Left! Nevada HOV Lanes Getting Time Trimmed

UPDATE: this change went into effect on April 25, 2023.

There is nothing more frustrating than being stuck in bumper to bumper traffic on Interstate 15. Then you look to your left and see an open lane, with barely anyone using it. Dreaded HOV lanes are scattered throughout Nevada and in many areas were active 24 hours! Then they got trimmed (barely) to 5am-10pm. Well, expect the left lane to open up pretty soon.

Nevada Lieutenant Governor Stavros Anthony met with the Nevada Department Of Transportation on Monday in an attempt to drop the HOV lanes altogther. But a compromise was made, and the number of hours the lanes will be limited to two or more passengers will be specifically targeted towards rush hour.

By May 10th, NDOT will be changing the HOV hours from the wide swath of time to something more reasonable. Monday through Friday from 6am until 8am for the morning commute, and again from 4pm until 6pm for the evening commute. Weekends? Let your left lane freak flag fly.

There are multiple ways of doing the HOV lane thing. Our neighbors to the west, California, do their lanes 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and their lanes are typically split with a raised divider. Considering how short lived and terribly the plastic dividers fared on Interstate 15... be glad they didn't put a curbstone down. In other major metros like Boston, inbound HOV lanes are limited to 6am-10am. Other solutions include a "zipper lane" where a machine moves jersey barriers on either side of the highway, allowing HOV riders to take a lane on the opposing direction of the highway.

Thankfully, as bad as we think our traffic is, Nevada doesn't need to go to extremes. Trimming down on the time the HOV lane is active is a good compromise. You know what would make traffic even better? Complete a single road project. Just one. Dare you.

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UPDATE: The STRAT has since rescinded their pay for parking policy, allowing drivers with a Nevada ID to come and go for free.

Once upon a time, Las Vegas was filled with free parking and valet. Valet drivers were tipped into six-digit incomes. Locals and visitors alike could visit the Strip and shell out their money inside the resort, not in the garage. But the times are a-changin', and paid parking is spreading faster than coronavirus. How bad as it gotten? The STRAT just started charging for parking.

Yes, for the low low price of not free, you can park your vehicle inside a parking lot in one of the least safe areas of the resort corridor.

We kid, but only a little. The STRAT is charging $6 for the first four hours during the weekdays, with a max daily charge of $12. Friday-Sunday, that bumps up to $8 with a max daily charge of $15.

"Oh, OK. For the tourists, but what about the locals?". Well, we hate to burst your bubble but the locals are not getting a discount. No "first 3 hours free". No discounted rate. You're paying as much as the frat boys from Rancho Cucamonga.

You may remember Resorts World (who has had their challenges drumming up business) started charging for parking recently, but that parking became free by simply having a Genting Rewards card, their free gaming rewards card. Any tier parks for free. The STRAT is giving free parking as well, but not for everyone. True Rewards members above "Solid" (which is the third tier up) get to park for free. To the rest, unfortunately, you've got to open your wallet.

It really is a shame, because what The STRAT has done in recent years to modernize their property is impressive! But not paying for parking in Las Vegas is something of a religion. Many aren't ready to convert.

There are still some properties that are thumbing their nose at the "fork over your money to park your car here and fork over more money" policy. They range from the cheapest to the most bougie and it makes you wonder... why would you park elsewhere?!

Started from the bottom... and this is the bottom. But if you're looking to bring the kids to Adventuredome, get a delicious meal at THE Steak House (which is a sleeper hit) and have "Slots-A-Fun" you're gonna park for free while you do it. Parking is free, while valet will set you back a minimum of $12.

Our first asterisk on the list is Resorts World. Sure, they technically started charging for parking at the beginning of 2023. But to their credit, they allow any Genting Rewards member of any tier to park for free. Almost brilliant to get people to sign up for the free card to get free parking, and now they have a list to market to. We'll allow it. At least they don't require us to run our credit to park for free.

Free parking garage AND FREE VALET?! Did we enter a time machine?! SAHARA Las Vegas has some really delicious dining options, hunky men and a gaming floor that doesn't even remotely resemble its former dilapidated form. Worth a visit!

They are so committed to free parking, they put it on their massive sign that faces Interstate 15. The valet is free as well! Sure, they got rid of the pirate show, but for this we'll forgive them.

We are going to show some clemency to Tropicana. The poor lil' fella is surrounded by casinos that charge for parking, an arena and a massive football stadium. Some self-parking is free, while closer lots at $5, and on major event days they get hurt badly (you have people parking there free but not going there at all) they'll charge non-hotel guests. Fair. Who knows, soon the property might actually be a major stadium of its own.

Love him or hate him, the property that bares former President Donald Trump's name features free parking. Make America Not Pay For Parking In Las Vegas Again! MANPFPILVA!

While they definitely charge for parking, locals are given three hours of clemency at MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment, Wynn Resorts and Venetian/Palazzo properties. Sure, they kind of started this trend, but credit where credit is due. They'd rather chase the locals out after a show than potentially have them stick around and play a slot for a while, which is an interesting business model.

It was a fun week on Aimee+Shawn and things kicked off with the legend: Barry Manilow.

Aimee was getting people into her special W.I.N.O.S. event to see the music icon at Westgate Las Vegas, and the station headed out to see him. You know what? Barry is pushing 80 years old, and we are kind of obsessed at how hard he brought it.

Over the weekend, Shawn's son Mario learned what "F.A.F.O." is. He played on the stairs despite being told dozens of times not to. Well, you know what happened next and Shawn thinks each stair taught his kid a valuable lesson.

Years ago, Aimee started talking to a boy over the phone. Her friend was trying to set them up when she was in 6th grade. After hours of talking she couldn't wait to meet him. Once she did, she couldn't wait to leave. Does this make her a bad person?

Shawn's wife really wants to go to an Easter egg hunt event with the kids this year. Problem is... the event she wanted to go to is run by Shawn's old station. He put the kibosh on that right away. Not to mention Aimee and Shawn both agree that these events are absolutely terrible and you put your kid's life at risk every time.

They are changing the lyrics to "Kiss The Girl" for the live action The Little Mermaid remake. This is Aimee's favorite movie, and her favorite song from the movie. Why is this song being considered so troublesome now?!

We've got more tickets to check out Kelly Clarkson at Bakkt Theater at Planet Hollywood PLUS one grand prize winner will get flown to Los Angeles to see Kelly tape her daytime TV show live! Plus tickets to 3 Doors Down... and a shot at $1000 Stimmy Checks!

We partied with Aimee for her latest W.I.N.O.S. event at Westgate Las Vegas to see the legendary Barry Manilow, and you know what, guy still has it!

Shawn's son Mario has been told several times to stop playing on the stairs. Well... he just learned why.

It is an act of deception that may never be forgiven. When you and your mate start watching a show together, but one of them continues watching without you. Aimee's hubby just did this and she's PISSED.

The super popular Instagram account Viral Vegas hit us with a bunch of fake news stories for April 1st... and while some of them were silly, we wish some of them were real.

Shawn just wanted to watch a movie, but someone in the theater started slamming something he did for a living for over a decade.

Love is a fickle thing. Sure, you could connect with someone mentally, but if you aren't feeling it physically does that make you a monster?

Aimee noticed Justin Timberlake's face was looking a little puffy. We think he might have gotten some work done NOT THAT THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT!

First rule of Scum Bucket Club... tell everyone about Scum Bucket Club.

Shawn made it to work on time. He just had to skip, you know, showering.

If you listen to the radio, watch TV or pass billboards in Las Vegas, you know how big lawyer ads are here. A new lawyer has entered the arena with a banger.

Aimee really wanted to go on a whale watch. Her Greek God of a military vet husband is all kinds of nope about it.

The reviews are in for "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" and critics are widely panning it. But the fans love it. Why do we let movie critics try to snob us out of the theater?!

Aimee picks her battles... and this is one she's PICKED. She hates the way her husband loads the dishwasher. He hates how she does it. Now it's a kitchen war.

We believe in the concept of "consent" and raise our kids accordingly. But how the heck has it gotten to this?!

Both Aimee and Shawn have fallen victim to the Easter Egg Hunt event. Swarms of oaf adults knocking over children so their kid gets a plastic egg with a tiny bag of "Whoppers" inside. Is it worth it? No. It's not.

A story about two councilwomen fighting at Las Vegas City Hall jogged Shawn's memory about his childhood bully. There's a lot of hurt there, obvi.

Shawn GENUINELY believes he could land a plane in an emergency, or do a decent job in the "big leagues". Is he nuts?

When Aimee spilled red wine on her brand new beige couch, she was mortified. She found a product that cleaned it and now she won't shut up about it.

Aim's about to hit the road with the fam for Easter, and before they do she wanted an oil change. The call to let her know her car was ready was... to say the least... a bit aggressive.