California Prius HOV lane sticker "gold rush"

[KTPhil]

Those stickers are there for two purposes. The first is to encourage buying of hybrids. Those hybrids save gas and reduce air pollution whether they are in the carpool lanes or on city streets. The benefit, not to the buyer, but to ALL residents continues wherever it is driven. The buyer paid extra to own a hybrid, perhaps spurred by the HOC sticker (used or not), but all residents benefit. Think about who is really "entitled" here, and who is getting the "free ride"?

The second reason is due to the South Coast Air Quality Management District 's (AQMD) failure to meet federal clean air standards. Carpool lanes and the stickers are means to demonstrate "mitigation" in the face of failure to meet standards. This allows continued funding of clean air projects despite not meeting standards. Getting more clean air vehicles and carpoolers into carpool lanes serves this mitigation purpose.

No one can read minds of Prius owners and conclude there is a mindset of entitlement present. I think this tells more about the observer than the Prius owner.

[cattail722]

If I could carpool, I seriously would. Unfortunately, I have one of those jobs where I never know what time I'll need to be in the office in the morning, nor do I know if I can leave at 6, on any given day. It would be really frustrating for those riding with me, and for me, if I did the carpool thing. Now that I have the stickers (since last week), I plan on taking full advantage of having those stickers, every day I work. I do agree with the notion that if you are not going to use them, don't get them. I've seen many posts from folks who don't want to put the stickers on because it will take away from the looks of the car. To me, these stickers are wasted. There are those out there who will never be able to get stickers because these folks have them, and are not using them. I also agree with the idea of carpooling, whenever possible. That truly is the point of the HOV lane. I know that whenever I can, I will. I only wish that could be every day.

[subarutoo]

I'm really tired of the Prius "smug", Hybrid "smug" labels, etc. All day long, I see SUV smug, Corvette smug, Porsche smug, BMW smug, jacked up Pick-up smug, slammed Honda smug, et. etc. Anybody who is proud of their purchase, for whatever reason, tends to be "smug" about their ride (for lack of a better term). They feel that their vehicle fulfills their need (or contrived need) better than anyother vehicle on the road. I'm glad I bought my Prius (the HOV sticker saves me 1 hour a day, 5 hours a week, 20 hours a month on my commute), it also gives me a solid 48 mpg with absolutely no sacrifice on my part. Smug, I guess I am, so what. Get over it.

[San_Carlos_Jeff]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BellBoy @ Apr 3 2006, 01:13 PM) [snapback]234222[/snapback]</div>

Regarding motivation to buy...the person that buys a hybrid JUST to travel in the HOV lane is an idiot, IMO. I bought it based on the same reasoning that I use to purchase anything--research, personal experience (test drive), and input from others (friends, PC and other sites). The motivation to save (as I mentioned in my first post) was the biggest draw for me.
[/b]

The only reason I looked into and ended up purchasing my Prius was to save over 30 minutes of driving a day.

Idiot

[BellBoy]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(San_Carlos_Jeff @ Apr 3 2006, 11:43 AM) [snapback]234265[/snapback]</div>

The only reason I looked into and ended up purchasing my Prius was to save over 30 minutes of driving a day.

Idiot
[/b]

Well if you are completely serious about that statement, I guess that means you have money to burn so to speak.

I'm sure that with gas prices pushing $3/gal again that a lot of your fellow posters here wouldn't mind you subsidizing their monthly fuel bill.

[San_Carlos_Jeff]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BellBoy @ Apr 3 2006, 04:24 PM) [snapback]234311[/snapback]</div>

Well if you are completely serious about that statement, I guess that means you have money to burn so to speak.

I'm sure that with gas prices pushing $3/gal again that a lot of your fellow posters here wouldn't mind you subsidizing their monthly fuel bill.
[/b]

Not quite enough money to burn, but I'm fortunate to have enough to make this purchase and spend an extra 2.5 hours a week with my family instead of sitting in traffic. It wasn't a snap decision, but ultimately I decided that life is short and the time with my kids is priceless.

[naterprius]

This is a non-issue. The state is likely to raise the number of available stickers if the lanes remain unclogged.

Nate

[fshagan]

The HOV stickers are for zero pollution or very low polluting cars, and there are many, many models that meet the criteria (but they are considerably rare compared to the Prius).

The adoption of incentives is to help consumers justify buying a low emission vehicle. While we love our Prius, and would have bought it without the HOV stickers, we may not have bought it without another incentive ... the $3150 tax credit. Economically, without that tax credit, the savings on gasoline over a Matrix or other small car isn't enough to pay for the extra cost of the Prius. I do love blowing through the ramp metering light every day ... I used to routinely run the thing, risking the $371 ticket, but the Prius has made an honest man out of me.

For all of these incentives, the goal is to drive the demand for cars the government feels are a better choice for the environment and for our energy policy.

[BionicWeasel]

Well I live in the San Fernando Valley, and have to drive to Marina Del Rey 5-6 days a week....!!
I want my dang stickers....it's been 2+ months since they cashed my check

[fredmertz]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BellBoy @ Apr 3 2006, 02:24 PM) [snapback]234311[/snapback]</div>

Regarding motivation to buy...the person that buys a hybrid JUST to travel in the HOV lane is an idiot, IMO...

__________________________________________________ ________________________

Well if you are completely serious about that statement, I guess that means you have money to burn so to speak.

I'm sure that with gas prices pushing $3/gal again that a lot of your fellow posters here wouldn't mind you subsidizing their monthly fuel bill.
[/b]

Well Bellboy, I'm really starting to understand the South Park episode more every day. I am also a big idiot because the only reason I purchased a Prius is to drive in the HOV lane. Driving 120 miles a day in the car pool lane saves me over an hour of time five days a week. That is about 240 hours a year. My time is valuable. I also own a Hummer and a few track cars that get about 3mpg on race fuel at over $6 a gallon. I guess that makes me an even bigger idiot.