California Diamond Lane Approval

[drmanny3]

So when can I start driving my Prius with only me as a passenger in California diamond lanes?????? Is anything happening at the Federal level to approve what was signed into law here in California?

Manny :guns:

[yoda]

THAT would be cool. Let's hope they'll allow hybrids to drive the diamond lane with only the driver!

On incentives - I just did my taxes. While I had to answer no to the question "Did you buy a hybrid in 2004" - I took pleasure knowing that I'll get to answer yes and collect the deduction next year. 8)

Yoda

[Erick]

Check here for updates. Once it passes US Congress, we'll just need the little stickers from the DMV. So it may be a while.....


http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d1...d109:h.r.00325:

[lcdJunky]

While I had to answer no to the question "Did you buy a hybrid in 2004" - I took pleasure knowing that I'll get to answer yes and collect the deduction next year. 8)

Are you referring to your Federal Return here or State of CA?

[salstress]

My dealer told me it is a $2,000 deduction on your federal tax return.

Regarding the California diamond lanes:

A law was passed in California that said high efficiency cars could drive in diamond lanes. Because California receives federal money to support diamond lanes, it must get federal approval to allow hybrids to drive in them. The congress is working on passing the bill as was noted above. The House passed a transportation bill that included a rider to allow the hybrids into carpool lanes. It is now in the senate's hands. The senate has to pass the whole transportation bill, which involves highway funding for all the states. Bush has said he would sign it if the Senate did not increase the dollar amount of the bill as the House has passed it. So, where we stand now is, the Senate is haggling over the details of the dollars going to each state for their highway funds. Presumably they will eventually find some agreement and pass a bill, which will still include the hybrid rider. Then Bush should sign it if it isn't too far from the original House bill.

I am holding my breath. I live in West LA and use the 405, 101 and 10 freeways regularly. This will be a godsend to me.

[Nerf Herder]

Here in the DC area, it is already legal for hybrid cars to be in the diamond lane (we call it the HOV lane here), but certain factions are trying to get that law revoked stating that it doesn't make much of a difference anyway. We'll see what happens....

[Hokie-Dave]

Yup, I think we are still legal through July 2006 if I remember correctly. I honestly do not notice that many hybrids clogging up the left lane on 66 in the morning. I doubt it would make a difference to the flow of traffic with or without the hybrids.
(I do hope they extend it though)



<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Nerf Herder\";p=\"80985)</div>

Here in the DC area, it is already legal for hybrid cars to be in the diamond lane (we call it the HOV lane here), but certain factions are trying to get that law revoked stating that it doesn't make much of a difference anyway. We'll see what happens....[/b]

[Erick]

Once they allow it in CA, especially certain areas, the HOV lane will be like a Prius Parade! There's tons of us out here!

[gschoen]

With so many new hybrids models coming this year, coudln't the lanes quickly be overwhelmed? I thought I read about one state required a certain MPG, was that California? Would seem unfair for the 28MPG Escape, Lexus, Highlander, or Accord to be in the lane while the Echo can't. Plus hybrids don't help with other auto issues - traffic, congestion, sprawl, if you still have 1 person in 1 vehicle.

Of course, I'm speaking from a city with no HOV lanes (must be only major city in country) and if they existed here, I am SOOOOOOO all for the hybrid rule!!!

[ceric]

HOV lanes were created to alleviate three issues
- congestion
- pollution
- oil consumption
(Think about why motorcycles were allowed on HOV lanes...)

By allowing hybrids with 45+ MPG(combined) to ride on HOV lanes, it achieves two of the above three original objectives. Why not? If you calculate the numbers in details, a large SUV with two people only does better toward the first (congestion) objective. A prius would consume 1/4 of gas, and produce 1/10 of pollution. Multiply the numbers by 2, Prius still wins hands down.