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NoSUV ![]() New Slug ![]() Joined: 14 Jan 2005 Status: Offline Points: 0 |
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quote: Remember, while it's vital to contact your Delegate and Senator, you should also contact several others - after all, the overwhelming consensus in Richmond is to extend the exemption, and the one vote of your representative, even if you convince him/her, is unlikely to be enough. |
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glc ![]() New Slug ![]() Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Status: Offline Points: 0 |
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As regards to the Hybrid exemption, we should not let the perfect stand in the way of the good. The politics is against letting the the exemption sunset. You piss off the regular lane drivers and you piss off the hybrid owners - this does not make for good re-election efforts. We may want to find middle ground in having someone introduce a bill that would grandfather in all existing hybrid owners and bar any new entries after 2006. Half a loaf is better then none. Any comments?
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NoSUV ![]() New Slug ![]() Joined: 14 Jan 2005 Status: Offline Points: 0 |
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You may be on to something, glc. Assuming that hybrid owners bought them primarily to get out of slugging (now, why would they do that if it's so good?), then they likely have enough money to influence legislative votes.
Once upon a time I thought slugs and hybrid owners would be a gool alliance against toll roads, but slugs thought differently. Again, if hybrid owners can afford to buy their way out of slugging, then clearly they can pay tolls. Once again, uncompromising attitudes by the slug community only backfired. |
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MDC ![]() New Slug ![]() Joined: 04 Dec 2002 Status: Offline Points: 0 |
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They do that because it's available as a no-effort option. You ignore the fact that carpooling, bus riding, and slugging, takes more time than the drive itself. A hybrid driver can easily save 15 minutes per trip simply by driving their own hybrid instead of a carpool. A lot of people will do that regardless of the impact on other commuters.
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coulbc ![]() New Slug ![]() Joined: 17 Aug 2005 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0 |
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I think Hybrids are here to stay. It really defeats the whole purpose of carpooling. All it does is put more cars on the road.
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rale ![]() New Slug ![]() Joined: 06 May 2002 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0 |
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I'm on the HOV lane most mornings at approx. 6:15pm. There is always a back up in the HOV lanes starting near Woodbridge and going all the way to Springfield. Many mornings, at around Lorton, the regular lanes are going faster than the HOV lanes. I guess my point is how can the ever-growing congestion in the HOV lanes be ignored by our politians when making such decisions? What am I missing? The HOV congestion is only getting worse. I am totally baffled that anyone would even have to think twice about the hybrid issue. If the idea is to get more cars off the road to lessen congestion, how do hybrids and certain excepted government vehicles carrying only the driver help the congestion? My thought after reading all this is never to vote for these politicians again. What kind of thinking is this? It certainly does not promote carpooling.
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Sheepish ![]() New Slug ![]() Joined: 20 May 2002 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0 |
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I enter the lanes consistently at 7:15 at the Dale City entrance. Like you rale, I agree that this is getting worse as the congestion in HOV lanes is often starting just over the hill, prior to the PWC Parkway entrance. So those out there that leave an hour earlier and experience these backups, let me assure you, it continues for the later travelers too.
I also am curious as to the thoughts of Hybrid drivers and their reasons as to why think the lanes are now so clogged..... especially since the HOV lanes are fast turning into the main lanes.... Their commute is slowing down too..... yeah sure, it might still be a little faster right now-- but didn't another car maker just announce new hybrids coming soon--- hmmmmm bigger SUV size..... It's a mind set change that needs to occur here .... I've argued this before... and the politicians who haven't a clue need to make the biggest mindset change of all! |
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VA4ver ![]() New Slug ![]() Joined: 09 Feb 2005 Status: Offline Points: 0 |
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I wonder if the exemptions continue for another year, will there be more hybrid SUVs on the lanes?
Any word on the tolls lanes? I wonder if the delegates just aren't going to change anything because the tolls are coming soon. |
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Bob ![]() New Slug ![]() Joined: 14 Dec 2001 Status: Offline Points: 0 |
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Of course. Keep in mind that the HOT lane only affects us in Northern Virginia. If they can manage to string out the hybrid exemption until the hybrids are kicked out by HOT (unfortunateley for them they will not be able to do that), then they will have accomplished foisting HOT lanes on us, end the hybrid issue in N VA , and allow hybrids on HOV in South VA.
Great plan huh? |
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MDC ![]() New Slug ![]() Joined: 04 Dec 2002 Status: Offline Points: 0 |
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Wasn't there a bill or two that prohibit converting HOV to HOT?
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