Question for the HOV lane users.

[Jayhawker]

I am just curious to know how many Prius owners here on the forum purchased the Prius just to have special use of the HOV lanes. I know I can't be the only one.

[MarinJohn]

For me it was an unexpected bonus. My main purpose in my purchase was to encourage automakers to experiment away from the same ole same ole. Seems to be working.

[fuzzy1]

Does anyone have a full list of states that offer this perk? CA, VA, and AZ have been mentioned.

WA doesn't and won't. Our HOV lanes don't have sufficient unused capacity to even think about allowing it.

[Sealawyer]

I must admit. Originally, when I first bought a Prius in 2005, it was a major contributing package.

At the time, I was commuting from Fort Lauderdale to Miami so the combination of good gas mileage and the privilege of traveling solo on I-95 in the HOV lane was a pretty good perk in a new car.

It has become an even greater serendipity now since south Florida is beginning to re-institute the HOV lanes as "pay as you go lanes", and they are exempting registered hybrids from payment to travel in those lanes.

I've also found the car to be the most "gremlin free" vehicle I have owned (knock on wood). So, I've become a real believer in the product.

[San_Carlos_Jeff]

Originally Posted by Jayhawker

I am just curious to know how many Prius owners here on the forum purchased the Prius just to have special use of the HOV lanes. I know I can't be the only one.

You're not the only one. If it wasn't for the HOV access I would probably still be commuting in my wife's Acura. The Prius has turned out to be a great trouble-free car for the last 65k miles, but if it weren't for the stickers I'd never have learned about it.

[JimboPalmer]

Mississippi has no HOV lanes. (yet) I am sure that explains the lack of stickers.

24 states have at least one HOV lane (as of Dec '08)

9 states allow some 'special fuels' vehicles access to HOV lanes: AZ, CA, CO, FL, NJ, NY, TN, UT, and VA. 8 more states are considering it.

A Compendium of Existing HOV Lane Facilities in the United States - FHWA Office of Operations

[patsparks]

Use of what?
No, not me.

[fuzzy1]

9 states allow some 'special fuels' vehicles access to HOV lanes: AZ, CA, CO, FL, NJ, NY, TN, UT, and VA. 8 more states are considering it. .

"Similar hybrid vehicle HOV legislation is currently being considered or has recently been considered in Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Texas, and Washington State."

I am not aware of any such consideration in Washington State. As a former carpooler (15 years) and new hybrid owner, I believe such a move would be a disaster here. Our HOV lanes are already heavily used, and we have enough hybrids to bring them to a crawl.

The WaDOT's HOV FAQ explains it well.

[Jayhawker]

fuzzy, I totally agree. I am glad AZ only issued out 10k of the plates. They are no longer allowing the folks who had their SUV's converted to natural gas that have the HOV plates use the HOV lanes anymore during peak times unless there is more than 1 person in the car.

I was very happy to get 57 mps when gas hit its peak last year, but I rarely drive the car the way it was intended.

[nascrlvr]

the only HOV lane in Louisiana is the lane on the Crescent City Connection bridge from downtown New Orleans to the Westbank and that is only for vehicles with 2 or more people in them. We are so backwards here........! Geez........