A proposal for hybrids

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   Allowing hybrids and other alternative fuel cars on I-95 HOV with one occupant is giving them a double benefit because the highway is HOV-3.  As I understand it, hybrids are allowed in most of the HOV lanes in the U.S.  However, many of the HOV lanes around the country are HOV-2, and the hybrid is only getting a reduction of one person.  I-95 is HOV-3 so they are getting a double benefit.

	A more logical approach (until our HOV system becomes jammed up with hybrids) would be to allow a reduction of one occupant for a given HOV type.  Once it is obvious to the powers that be that allowing hybrids is a mistake, then the hybrid exception will be dropped.

	Does anyone have any info on other HOVs around the country, what they are doing with hybrids, and whether hybrids are popular elsewhere?

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Bob Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 14 Dec 2001 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote Bob Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: A proposal for hybrids Posted: 17 Apr 2003 at 10:07am
	Allowing hybrids and other alternative fuel cars on I-95 HOV with one occupant is giving them a double benefit because the highway is HOV-3. As I understand it, hybrids are allowed in most of the HOV lanes in the U.S. However, many of the HOV lanes around the country are HOV-2, and the hybrid is only getting a reduction of one person. I-95 is HOV-3 so they are getting a double benefit. A more logical approach (until our HOV system becomes jammed up with hybrids) would be to allow a reduction of one occupant for a given HOV type. Once it is obvious to the powers that be that allowing hybrids is a mistake, then the hybrid exception will be dropped. Does anyone have any info on other HOVs around the country, what they are doing with hybrids, and whether hybrids are popular elsewhere?

3ForHOV Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 27 Mar 2003 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote 3ForHOV Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 17 Apr 2003 at 11:01am
	My understanding of how hybrids work is this...they use GASOLINE when they are on the highway and switch over to ELECTRIC for inner city/suburb driving. If this is the case, they should be considered like every other gas guzzling vehicle out there and should obide with the HOV-3 rule. I consider myself a conservationist/environmentalist and if I owned a hybrid, I would still swing by and pick up slugs on my way to work.

Vema Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 07 Oct 2002 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote Vema Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 17 Apr 2003 at 12:20pm
	Hear!!!! Hear!!!! quote: Originally posted by 3ForHOV [br]My understanding of how hybrids work is this...they use GASOLINE when they are on the highway and switch over to ELECTRIC for inner city/suburb driving. If this is the case, they should be considered like every other gas guzzling vehicle out there and should obide with the HOV-3 rule. I consider myself a conservationist/environmentalist and if I owned a hybrid, I would still swing by and pick up slugs on my way to work.

wdossel Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 02 Jan 2002 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote wdossel Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 17 Apr 2003 at 12:49pm
	quote: Originally posted by 3ForHOV [br]My understanding of how hybrids work is this...they use GASOLINE when they are on the highway and switch over to ELECTRIC for inner city/suburb driving. If this is the case, they should be considered like every other gas guzzling vehicle out there and should obide with the HOV-3 rule. I consider myself a conservationist/environmentalist and if I owned a hybrid, I would still swing by and pick up slugs on my way to work. Absolutely -- as I found myself the other day w/3 slugs onboard and surrounded by 4 hybrids (3 Hondas and a Prius) with only a driver, I'm thinking to myself, "what's wrong with this picture..." I should probably mention the line for PM was particularly long that day too. - Will

swichowski Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 12 Sep 2002 Location: va Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote swichowski Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 17 Apr 2003 at 1:03pm
	Someone told me there is a lady that picks up people in a Hybrid every day. I think at 610

MDC Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 04 Dec 2002 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote MDC Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 17 Apr 2003 at 9:46pm
	All but the least common hybrid have 4 doors.. They should make use of all that passenger space. If the extension of their exception goes through, well over half of the vehicles in the HOV lanes will be hybrids before the next time it comes up. As I understand it, only Virginia has the exception for hybrids regarding HOV. The Feds do not approve of the practice(permitting single occupant vehicles on hov), and may force their hand. I do not know if this is the case, but it is how one of the Virginia websites characterized the situation.

tdar20 Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 29 Jul 2002 Location: va Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote tdar20 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 Apr 2003 at 7:55am
	Well, there is a lot of mis-information about Hybrids out there as to how they operate. It does not switch over for city driving to the Hybrid power. When you are cruising along is when it works best. That being said I think the bigger problem is the HOV violators out there. Yesterday going home on the HOV lane at 4:00 pm was clogged with violators. Where is the enforcement?? It gets to the point that when you are driving at 6:30 am and 4 pm it is clogged with cars violating the rule. Would be nice to see enforcement stepped up.

MDC Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 04 Dec 2002 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote MDC Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 Apr 2003 at 3:09am
	In my opinion, there are a lot more "legal" single occupancy vehicles, than violators most of the time. The solution is to make HOV, HOV-4 or 5, so there's room for all the "legal" single occupancy vehicles before it's too late. Either that, or cut down the exemptions.

mycroftt Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 11 Feb 2002 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote mycroftt Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21 Apr 2003 at 8:44am
	quote: Originally posted by MDC [br]In my opinion, there are a lot more "legal" single occupancy vehicles, than violators most of the time. The solution is to make HOV, HOV-4 or 5, so there's room for all the "legal" single occupancy vehicles before it's too late. Either that, or cut down the exemptions. I propose that the HOV lanes be reserved strictly for "exception" vehicles. The special lanes should be for special people only - diplomats, law enforcement, the very rich, and lawyers. Let the cars carying multiple passengers ride in the regular lanes with the rest of the peasants. Mike[:o)][8][:o)]

swichowski Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 12 Sep 2002 Location: va Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote swichowski Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21 Apr 2003 at 8:56am
	Thats how it is now I thought. [:)]