Comments on: Legislators Debate Solo Hybrid Access to Carpool Lanes

By: tapra1

tapra1 — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:02:15 +0000

Others argue that the incentives were successful in promoting hybrids in recent years, but given the popularity.Best eCommerce Hosting

By: Nitric Oxide

Nitric Oxide — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 12:43:28 +0000

It’s incorrect to say California’s original goal was to increase adoption of hybrid cars. You obviously read the legislative analysis, and I am mystified how you could have come to this conclusion on reading that document. The original purpose of the HOV lane is to decrease traffic congestion and decrease pollution. In 1999 was the first time it was extended, to cover electric vehicles, not hybrid vehicles. Partly because hybrid vehicles weren’t yet on the market, of course. It wasn’t until 2006 that the program was extended to cover hybrid vehicles. But it’s also clear that the other goal, reducing traffic congestion, got lost in the shuffle of rewarding hybrid car owners.
http://www.wikio.com/article/nitric-oxide-201062891

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 03:13:45 +0000

When I drive my hybrid, I am energy efficient ALL of the time. Not that the gas hogs in the in carpool lane that are only efficient a few hours a week.

By: Richard G.

Richard G. — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 22:43:29 +0000

would you rather have 6 Hybrids in the Car Pool Lane with 1 person each…. or 1 large van or SUV with 6 people? Do the Math… 1 Sequoia puts out less emissions than 6 Prius’s…. Is it realy better?

By: Former Slug

Former Slug — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 20:13:22 +0000

Having lived through the Rise of the Hybrids in the NOVA HOV lanes, I saw how they brought the volume levels to exceed the lane capacity.

HOV lanes had three purposes, reduce commute times, reduce pollution, and reduce traffic on the roads and in urban parking.

Hybrids reduced the pollution but aggrivated traffic and commute times because people figured out they could buy thier way onto the HOV lanes.

Motorcycles take up less space on the road (length) and can park in places where cars cannot. A couple of blocks from the White House is a parking section for motorcycles. You could find 20 bikes in the parking space of two cars. Also irregular spaces in parking garages can accommodate bikes.

The biggest problem in NOVA is the GOV lanes. That is the Government Owned Vehicle lanes. Essentially, anyone with a government vehicle is exempt 100% of the time (regardless of what the laws say). The equal or exceed the number of hybrids on HOV in NOVA.

By: Scott Z

Scott Z — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:36:41 +0000

The logic that allows hybrids and motorcycles in the HOV lanes is pollution. Hybrid and MCs produce far less emissions then conventional vehicles.

I live in North VA and the main HOV path here is 395 into DC. This road has two center lanes that change direction with the time of day. Before VA allowed the use of the HOV lane for hybrids that traffic was extremely light while the normal 3 lanes were a parking lot. Once hybrids were allowed to use the HOV lanes traffic became more balanced. HOV was no longer empty and the time the normal lanes are pack has decreased somewhat. Of course that could be the economy of late.

I just wish VA would add a MPG limit as well. A Hybrid that gets 28 MPG should not have the same access as one that get 50MPG. How about forgetting if it is hybrid or not. Let just say if your car gets over 45 MPG you can solo. If you get over 35 MPG you can use the 3 HOV with 2 people.

By: earl glover

earl glover — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:26:31 +0000

HOV lanes were tried in NJ the result was the HOV lane had very light traffic yeh for the minority the overwhelming majority of commuters were stuck in many cases idling for an extra hour to three hours a day becouse of it. use your head do the math multiply tw lanes x 30 miles of cars idling an extra 2 to 3 hours each a day so that a small minority can get to work in half the time. the numbers would say it all you just bumbed up green house gas – gas consumption via idling vehicles that would normally have been moving at a conservative MPG – traffic accidents and fatalities due to unprecedented congestion. its a nice dream but in the suburbs it just dosnt work try to car pool with different start and stop times for work – the time it takes for pool to gather at departure location – enough said – build more roads ease congestion you will do much more for the enviroment by eliminating the time cars are on the road trying to get to where they need to go gee thats an idea and puts people to work!

By: JJspawn

JJspawn — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 10:53:51 +0000

Most motorcycles get in 45 mpg easily. I have GSX-R 750, a fast bike, and I easily get in the mid to upper 40s.

Only mopeds get in the 60+ mpg range. I'm sorry but I can't be seen on a moped.

By: Charles

Charles — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 03:04:08 +0000

There are motorcycles that do not get 45 MPG. A lot of motorcycles do not get 65 MPG. I see no reason to allow motorcycles and not high MPG cars, hybrid or not. I can see both sides for allowing any solo driver using HOV lanes, but if you allow motorcycles then allow cars that have the same or higher MPG rating.

BTW, the EPA should test motorcycles.

By: Meeker

Meeker — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 23:55:23 +0000

Motorcycles get access to carpool lanes also. I don't see a problem with 45+ mpg Hybrids using it unless the carpool lanes are getting so overcrowded. That's when you bump up the MPG limit. With plug-in and electric vehicles coming soon, 65+ is not so bad.

One thing that is stupid is the yellow sticker that people try to peel off a Prius and stick it on their pickup trucks. Wal-mart people.

Car-pool lanes alone were just stupid. Not that many people formed a carpool simply to use the roads. It would be better to just open it back up for everyone. Can't wait for autonomous cars. Humans just shouldn't be driving anyway.