Just Say No To Hybrids in HOV Lanes

On Thursday we learned from our favorite Doctor (Hybrids in HOV Lanes, April 10, 2008, by Robert Thomson - Dr. Gridlock, Washington Post) that Virginia had extended the hybrid HOV law again for another year until July of 2009. What are these officials thinking? In their rush to prove their green bona fides are they forgetting that nothing is more green than sharing the ride? We've railed against this stupid exemption for SOV drivers in the past (The Dr. Says No to Hyrbrids in HOV Lanes, April 7, 2007) and so we'll mention it again. The HOV lanes should be for people who carpool, slug, vanpool and take public transit. Period. To do otherwise puts the lanes usefulness at risk.

In his column on Thursday, Dr. Gridlock says it best again:

"Carpoolers would love to see the solo hybrid drivers kicked out of the HOV lanes. That would definitely improve their traffic flow by returning the carpool lanes to their original purpose. The exemption allowing hybrids to join them, even though they didn't meet the passenger requirements, was intended as a temporary incentive to spur the purchase of less-polluting vehicles. But Virginia legislators have been extending the exemption year by year, well past the time an incentive was needed. They'll probably do it again next year."

It's his last line that is scary. Let's hope this mistake isn't repeated next year. HOV lane users need to say something to their legislators and end this exemption once and for all.

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Chris Hamilton is the Commuter Services Chief for Arlington County, manager of CommuterPageBlog and a Metro/biking commuter from Rosemont in Alexandria.

Comments

[Ken]

I like the exemption allowing hybrids with CF (Clean Special Fuel) plates. Note that hybrids registered after 2006 or so can no longer get those plates, so you won't see an increase of single-rider hybrids on the HOV lanes.

We need to reduce traffic during rush hour, but we also need cleaner cars on the roads. So the exemption offers a nice incentive to be an early adopter of hybrid car technology, along with all the risks.

BTW, I biked (19 miles) to work today, and I normally drive I-95 only two days per week, so I am doing my best to reduce road congestion.

You should concentrate on eliminating true HOV violators before working on hybrid drivers, in my logical opinion.