Hybrid vehicles threaten commuters' trip in the fast lane

Even though I have a Prius, my sympathy's with the non-hybrid drivers.

 

Re: Hybrid vehicles threaten commuters' trip in the fast lan

While it’s true that with the advent of hybrid cars the amount of cars on the HOV lanes has increased over the last two years, I offer this observation; on a typical drive to the Springfield exit at 7:30 AM I count 15 law enforcement vehicles, 9 hybrids, 12 violators and the rest are carpoolers and busses. The road is NEVER crowded at this time of day. The drive home at 5:00 is more crowded with hybrids then in the mornings, yet there is a proportionate increase in all other vehicles – especially law enforcement vehicles and violators.

I take issue with a couple of observations mentioned; first, the law enforcement vehicles (allowed on the HOV lanes IF they are "on duty"). These cars can’t ALL be on duty! They’re often just older mid-size Chevy sedans that have one antenna mounted on the trunk – and a blue light on the rear shelf (I even saw a Chevy Cavalier once). In addition, if they are truly law enforcement, they should obey the traffic laws more so then everyone else. I see these folks zipping in and out of traffic without turn signals all the time.

Secondly, the hybrid vehicles that get below 35 MPG should not enjoy the clean fuel exemption that a 50 MPG plus car receives. My old car got 34 MPG! Granted, the hybrid SUV’s probably have better emissions, but not by much.

Lastly, ANY hybrid that is zooming down the road is negating the entire reason for the clean fuel exemption. I can honestly say that most of my hybrid brothers and sisters are doing respectable speeds (I know that it’s MY goal to squeeze out as much MPG as possible – 58 being my best on the combined city/hwy). Going back to the SUV hybrids, I noticed a Ford Escape hybrid traveling on my bumper in the right lane the other day. She eventually sped around me and was changing lanes often at a high-rate of speed. My point is that she not only doesn’t get a decent "hybrid MPG", but she makes it worse by driving too fast.

In conclusion, when determining the new HOV laws for hybrids, please consider the points I’ve attempted to make in my letter.

* Only hybrids with an excess of 35 MPG
* Speeding fines doubled for hybrids
* Re-evaluate the law enforcement vehicles allowed on the road (it’s not a private road for the FBI and off-duty police)
* HOV-2 for hybrids?
* Certain hours for hybrids?

I feel strongly that the HOV lanes MUST remain clear of traffic, yet the high-MPG, low emissions hybrid cars make so much sense in an area where pollution is very often un-acceptable.

 

Personally, I think hybrids can do a lot to help the USA and the world postpone "peak oil". However, we need to switch over pretty quickly for hybrids to have any real affect.

To me, the HOV lane issue helps to promote hybrids so this is a good thing. But I also think it wise to limit that HOV use to REAL hybrids that make a feal difference in pollution and MPG.

However, density of vehicles is also important, so I like the way California has limited it. Thus, I think it's a good thing that REAL hybrids can use the HOV lane like this, but it should be limited, and absolutely TIME limited. NO more than 5 years and then go back to the 3 person limit.

And in the article above, it cites a woman who, ostensibly due to hybrids in the HOV lane, its now a 45 minute commute up from 30. 15 minutes out of her life. This sound to me like the downside of this law is trivial.

 

I personally don't think there should be HOV lanes at all. That asphalt has been paid for with taxpayers dollars, funded with gas tax money and maintained with gas tax money. As such some butt in the seat of a bus isn't paying his/her proportion of the cost of maintaning or building them. Two people in a diesel Excursion isn't a good way to reduce polution but they get to use the HOV lane leagly. Here they're called the Green Lane. ya right. green my a**.

 

Re: Hybrid vehicles threaten commuters' trip in the fast lan

I thought the main goal of HOV lanes was to reduce the number of cars in order to reduce pollution emissions in heavily-populated urban areas. Doesn't the average solo-driven hybrid vehicle help achieve that goal as much as the average gas-engined vehicle with two occupants?

 

I'd say go for it... encouraging more drivers to buy these hyper-efficient cars can not possibly be a bad thing for the environment.

Thus speaks the man who was almost run down yesterday by a teenager in a very big, very red 3/4 ton Dodge-Ram-Dual-Rear-Wheel monstrosity. The kid was driving solo, with massive thumping bass stereo and talking on the cell phone (gods know how he heard the conversation) while eating a big fat burger and steering with one elbow.

Dang, I just love living in Texas!

Terry

 

ok i see it coming like a runaway freight train.

increased taxes to account for the money needed to pay for the "single Hybrid" lane.


hehehe

 

The Primary purpose of HOV lanes is to reduce TRAFFIC & congestion. Hybrids don't reduce either.

You can purchase a non-hybrid SULEV/PZEV vehicle that emits the same amount of pollutants as a Prius, some with great gas mileage, but they're not allowed in the carpool lanes. Congested cities aren't going to be able to add more lanes or new roads - everyone by themselves in Hybrid vehicles isn't going to help traffic or congestion. Just burn less gas while we all sit in traffic all day long.

 

sorry but if you have to burn more gas to go the same distance then you are emitting more polutants

 

Actually, I think the reason for the HOV lanes is even more encompassing than this.

To really get a handle on why they exist, you would need to poll each politician that was involved at the time they were funded. Each had their own reasons but I think they all came down to this: The HOV lanes exist to improve commerce and to improve the quality of our lives, and the quality of the city experience.

Traffic, congestion, parking limitations in the city, as well as air quality and gas usage are all factors in that equation. And of course the hybrid does nothing about the first 3, but they do the last 2. Hence, they are justifiable, IMHO.

But not forever, only as a way to encourage the sale and expansion of hybrids. 5 years tops, and if hybrids break the 10% barrier before that, then 2 or 3 years. But if, heaven forbid, they don't catch on in significant numbers in 5 years, then the hybrid had their shot, and should lose the HOV privilege.

 

By that reasoning, motorcycles should never have been allowed into the HOV lanes. What's THEIR justification? Most states don't allow lane-sharing, so congestion isn't it. Some states don't allow motorcycles to share parking spaces (cuts down on revenue, you see), so that's not it. Many parking structures don't even allow motorcycles into them, let alone share spaces within, so that's not it.

What's left from your list? Reduced gas usage and lower emissions.

 

HOV were created to motivate more people to ride the bus. that didnt happen

so they allowed carpools to motivate mroe car pooling. that didnt happen.

now they had to let some other people on. so they allowed hybrids. that happened because in this world its easier to compromise than it is to live and commute together

 

Re: Hybrid vehicles threaten commuters' trip in the fast lan

I'm PRO hybrid in the HOV (see earlier post). However, to dispel the myths about the "bus lanes" here is a fact: the HOV lanes, with the buses, car poolers and "slugs" (those who stand around and wait for others to pick them up so that they can use the HOV lanes) carry more people than any of the Metrorail lines out of Virginia in to D.C. Therefore, those lanes must remain clear of congestion so that it's worth the efforts.

On motorcycles: the Prius gets better milage than most motorcycles - with less emotions - and they take up as much room as a car.

I actually was part of a carpool - which was no easy trick. To find 3 people that lived in the same area that worked at the same business in an industrial park where NO buses drove to. It worked well as long as 2 of us were willing to overlook the constant lateness of the 3rd.

Keep the HOV exemption for hybrids until it's necessary to stop it. BUT, as a last resort since the hybrids offer so many benefits.

 

Re: Hybrid vehicles threaten commuters' trip in the fast lan

I'll be honest, I purchased my Prius in order to use HOV as a solo driver. My commute time from Woodbridge VA to Alexandria has been cut in half. From a nightmarish 1.5 hours on some occasions, to a stress reducing 30 minutes. I tried carpooling services and "slugging" websites, but not many people go into Alexandria from Woodbridge.

My understanding is the traffic tie-ups in HOV occur as you near DC on 395 (near the Pentagon). I get off HOV in Springfield, way before that problem area and traffic is moving nicely as I jump onto 495 towards the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. IMHO I'm not contributing to the traffic tie ups, but I'm sure others may disagree.

 

Re: Hybrid vehicles threaten commuters' trip in the fast lan

I think people need to think more enviormentally friendly or our world is going to go to shit. So stop wining about the advantage of being enviormentally friendly. So just stop with the dam child retaliation of taking away our," hybrid owners" advandtages...

This is redicualus....

Trey Bohon

 

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Per the US DoT:

Why are motorcycles allowed in some HOV lanes?

Motorcycles are permitted by federal law to use HOV lanes, even with only one passenger. The rationale behind allowing motorcycles to use HOV lanes is that it is safer to keep two-wheeled vehicles moving than to have them travel in start-and-stop traffic conditions. States can choose to override this provision of federal law, if they determine that safety is at risk.

I personally think that single occupant Priuses shouldn't be allowed into HOV lanes, since they don't meet both of the goals of HOV lanes, but I can understand why other feel differently.