"In Carpool Lanes, Hybrids Find Cold Shoulders" LA Times

[subarutoo]

Same old, same old, blah, blah, blah. Last night I found myself doing 84 in the carpool lane, keeping equal distance between Selfish Unsafe Vehicles, and others. The carpool sticker cuts 20-30 minutes off my commute (Chatsworth CA to Azusa CA on the 118 and 210). If the lane is truly clogged, how is 84 possible? The times I've been slowed by the carpool lane, have not been by hybrids, but usually polluting junker cars. Smug? Damn right. Get over it! I too see lots more single driver "cheaters" than hybrids in the lane. Construction guys in pickups seem to be the worst offfenders of that.

[NuShrike]

Hm.. article fails to mention most people are "speeding" in the high 80s to low 90s MPH in the carpool lane.

OTOH, where do I send pictures of other slow drivers in the carpool lanes as a rebuttal to this article which conveniently does not allow response? By the numbers, there's still more of these slower drivers, may it be trucks, sedans, hatchbacks, etc, than any number of Prius.

[Potential Buyer]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NuShrike @ Apr 11 2006, 03:44 PM) [snapback]238183[/snapback]</div>

Hm.. article fails to mention most people are "speeding" in the high 80s to low 90s MPH in the carpool lane.

OTOH, where do I send pictures of other slow drivers in the carpool lanes as a rebuttal to this article which conveniently does not allow response? By the numbers, there's still more of these slower drivers, may it be trucks, sedans, hatchbacks, etc, than any number of Prius.
[/b]

That's true and that's what I said to Amanda (journalist) when she asked my input. I very rarely saw other hybrids in the HOV lanes, but I certainly saw other cars that were going really slow and holding up traffic.

[Rancid13]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(subarutoo @ Apr 11 2006, 01:29 PM) [snapback]238174[/snapback]</div>

Selfish Unsafe Vehicles
[/b]

Hahaha!!!

[Miss_Taz]

Well, here in central FL, we really don't have any HOV lanes on any highways, but I have lived in the SF Bay area before, so I can appreciate that those guys drive like maniacs!

But I gotta take exception to the motorcycle comments above...

As a 2005 Prius owner and the owner of 2 motorcycles (one dual sport, one sport tourer), I have to say that both bikes get almost IDENTICAL MPG to my hybrid. (Between 45 & 50 MPG)

So in response to the (much) earlier comments, I would say that they SHOULD get lumped in with the Prius in terms of being allowed to use an HOV lane, simply based on their fuel efficiency. (And somehow, I suspect that the motorcycles are NOT slowing things down.... My experiences out there is that they WHIZ by you even when you're doing 80 or 90...)

And, personally, I feel that any super fuel efficient vehicle should be allowed to use the HOV lane.

And I am also a "5 mile over" driver. I don't let any one bully me into speeding, no matter where I am driving.

:-)

[JMcPhee]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Potential Buyer @ Apr 11 2006, 12:06 PM) [snapback]238149[/snapback]</div>

I wouldn't call myself a hazard to the people going the same speed as me, or the people passing me in the left lane, or even the people to the right of me that I'm passing. We're in different lanes. I've been driving quite a while and have never been in an accident, despite always speeding. What are the odds! Quite high actually.
That traffic flow isn't synonymous with speed limit? That argument is true.
I've been driving a 2006 Civic Hybrid for the last 5 months and I am indeed much lighter-footed than when I had my Jetta. I drive the same speeds but accelerate more gently and coast when I can.
Well most of the replies in this thread seem to suggest her opinion was right -- hybrid drivers drive slowly in HOV lanes and piss people off.
[/b]

Look, keeping up with the flow of traffic means going the same speed as those around you, up to the speed limit. If everyone on the freeway is doing 85 in the fast lane, I'll do my 65-70 in the slow lane. BUT... in the Orange county stop and go culture, traffic does 80 from Crown Valley Parkway to Alicia, and then slows to 40. 80 again to the El Toro Y, and then slows to 40 again. 80 AGAIN to the Culver/Jamboree, and then crawls up to and through the 55 interchange at 30 or less. Meanwhile, I'm in the carpool lane with the cruise set at 70, and when I keep track, I end up leaving the fast lane cars way behind me. As for the guy on my bumper who wants to go 80? Screw him.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(subarutoo @ Apr 11 2006, 12:29 PM) [snapback]238174[/snapback]</div>

Same old, same old, blah, blah, blah. Last night I found myself doing 84 in the carpool lane, keeping equal distance between Selfish Unsafe Vehicles, and others. The carpool sticker cuts 20-30 minutes off my commute (Chatsworth CA to Azusa CA on the 118 and 210). If the lane is truly clogged, how is 84 possible? The times I've been slowed by the carpool lane, have not been by hybrids, but usually polluting junker cars. Smug? Damn right. Get over it! I too see lots more single driver "cheaters" than hybrids in the lane. Construction guys in pickups seem to be the worst offfenders of that.
[/b]

Are you sure about the construction guys? You never know if the girlfriend is "napping" in his lap...