Comments on: California Allowing Hybrids in Carpool Lanes

By: Paddy Downey

Paddy Downey — Tue, 16 Aug 2005 22:24:09 +0000

There is only one true solution to this entire problem. Move away or continue to waste years of your life sitting in traffic. Do the math, yes, it's years if you stay until retirement. I moved and life is much better. Traffic in these area's will alway be terrible so put on your BGP's or move away. The choice is yours.

By: piratemonkey

piratemonkey — Thu, 11 Aug 2005 15:24:10 +0000

Fair enough.

I take the more Christian viewpoint of acting toward others like I'd want others to act towards me. Jesus wasn't to hip on the idea that we should do what's best for us and "screw the rest," was he?

I think the Golden Rule is in the Bible once or twice, as well as in just about every other sacred religious text.

At least you admit your viewpoint is selfish. I admire and respect your honesty.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Thu, 11 Aug 2005 15:17:33 +0000

When purchasing or driving a car, my own safety and that of my passengers is paramount. It's the responsibility of others on the road to protect themselves.

By: piratemonkey

piratemonkey — Thu, 11 Aug 2005 15:07:44 +0000

"Smaller cars offer much less protection in a crash."

Protection to who?

I assume you are stating that the driver of the smaller car has less protection, but what about everyone else on the road?

What you fail to consider is that driving a smaller car, while measurably more dangerous to the driver of that car, also measurably makes the roads safer for every other driver. The main reason driving a smaller car is more dangerous is because there is an obscene number of huge SUV's waiting to stomp any vehicle they get in an accident with.

If you are truly concerned about safety, MORE small cars on the roads make them safer for everyone, not LESS.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Sat, 06 Aug 2005 12:04:23 +0000

Bryan: Maybe. I know there's a hybrid version of the Ford Escape, a tiny SUV, coming. I'm not sure whether it will qualify for the exemption in California, though.

Presumably, though, hybrid technology is/will be adaptable to larger, more powerful vehicles at some point.

By: bryan

bryan — Sat, 06 Aug 2005 03:25:41 +0000

You realize, of course, that hybrid SUVs are coming onto the market, thus weakening your safety argument.

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 05 Aug 2005 16:26:32 +0000

In Atlanta, the HOV lane is about as slow as all the others.

By: Maniakes

Maniakes — Fri, 05 Aug 2005 15:28:33 +0000

I've always liked HOV lanes (in appropriate proportions) on the grounds that they give priority to cars that move more passangers for a constant use of road space. Not necessarily to encourage people to carpool, simply to speed up the commute of those who do. It's a utilitarian argument: letting a car with two passengers into an express lane gets two people to their destination faster, while letting a randomly chosen car with one passenger in only gets one person there faster.

Of course, the benefit is lost if the HOV lane is underused. The ones I've seen in southern California have generally been well-used during peak hours, but I expect this varies in different areas.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Fri, 05 Aug 2005 15:23:28 +0000

Just wait until Virginia (and then MD supposedly) adds HOT lanes to the Beltway. Privately financed lanes that you can pay to use. Last report I saw said the first segment built would be Springfield to somewhere just south of the American Legion Bridge.

By: M1EK

M1EK — Fri, 05 Aug 2005 15:08:29 +0000

The strip up 395 in DC, on the other hand, is full of HOV vehicles. Clearly there are places where HOV works.

From the perspective of "how much can we afford to spend to move N more vehicles", HOV makes sense anywhere there are some concentrated employment destinations. (IE, it doesn't work in Silicon Valley, but it does, generally, work in places like DC, or Dallas, or Houston).

By: Fersboo

Fersboo — Fri, 05 Aug 2005 13:23:44 +0000

I agree that HOV is wasted space. That however doesn't bother me as much as law enforcement neglecting to enforce the HOV restriction. On the little stretch (US50 in Prince Georges MD)of highway I have to contend with HOV lanes, a majority of those in the HOV lane do not meet the requirements. Rarely will you see law enforcement ticketing those who abuse the lanes.

By: Eric J

Eric J — Fri, 05 Aug 2005 13:05:16 +0000

66 HOV has seemed significantly lighter lately. It may be due to increased enforcement. (My wife and I work across the street from each other, so we have a perfect setup to use 66 HOV.)