Another Good Year

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Originally posted by NoSUV

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Originally posted by bnvus

Awwww....HOV exemption will expire July 1 2012. Guess all of you will be joining us in the slug line be it slug or driver. No matter we will welcome you anyway. Get there early, you don't want to be late.

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Not true. Exemption continues until HOT. Then EVERYBODY gets the chance to pay to use the express lanes.

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Where do you see that? Virginia house bill 1432 clearly states Hybrid exemptions run out July 1 2012. Looks like they wanted to give you guys a warning that is time to do away with the exemptions.

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Originally posted by bnvus

Awwww....HOV exemption will expire July 1 2012. Guess all of you will be joining us in the slug line be it slug or driver. No matter we will welcome you anyway. Get there early, you don't want to be late.

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LOL[:D]

Nic

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Originally posted by NoSUV

Wow, colossus, you have so many inaccuracies and misconceptions that it's, well, colossus.

IF we got rid of slugging and instead had hybrid only lanes, less fuel would be consumed (Proven in MD when a county replaced 50% of its fleet and saw a 50% savings in annual fuel), meaning that all of our fuel costs would lower from the lower consumption. IF slugs went on public transportation, we wouldn't have the congestion we do now, and we'd have a stream of funding for transportation in the Commonwealth. The side benefit is, as Arlington claimed in a lawsuit, the air would be cleaner.

There are NO NEW EXEMPTIONS currently, so the total number of hybrids in the express lanes during commuting hours is either the same or less than the number from 2 years ago. Unfortunately, we can't get the General Assembly to go back to the way it was in the early 2000's and exempt all hybrids. IF they did that while eliminating the HOV exemption (yes, HOV exemption - the lanes were never built for HOV but to be Express Lanes), then we would also have an economic stimulus based on people trading in their guzzlers for hybirds. It would be a non-taxpayer funded Cash-for-Clunkers program that would benefit everyone. Except those who belong to the "entitlement" class of slugs.

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All of this is from someone who feels it would be best to only have BUSSES on those lanes. The sad fact is the Hybrids create more of a gridlock.

"Hybrids get their best gas mileage when operating in city traffic or stop-and-go traffic, where the electric engine and braking energy recovery result in the highest gas mileage. At freeway speeds, Hybrids are no more efficient then any other vehicle due to the need for the gas engine to be running at full speed to keep the pace."

A common misconception. My Prius gets similar mileage in both environments. That is because city driving creates a lot more stop and go cycles which eat up fuel (accelerating from stops). Also, hiway driving has numerous opportunities to go into coast mode, where the engine shuts down and energy is regenerated. Don't believe everything you read. You have to operate one to understand the true capabilities.

Guess i will have to break out the old tried and true.


This could work for any of the State Senators, I just drafted it to fit mine. No pride of authorship here please feel free to take and share with friends, neighbors, slugs, colleagues, just about anyone.

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Have you met your new Springfield State Senator?
Let me introduce you to Sen. George Barker.

Sen. George Barker Hates Slugs and Slugging

On Feb. 26th, one of Senator Barker¡¦s first actions was to extend the Hybrid exemption for HOV lanes to allow single passenger hybrids to continue using HOV lanes. Regardless that increasing gas prices are resulting in more and more vehicles are crowding the HOV lanes and slowing the commute.

Since Sen. Barker has proven through his votes that he hates the SLUG system and instead supports Hybrid drivers and big developers, maybe we should remind him how is the Hybrid exemption bad for Virginians?

„« Since the Hybrid exemption was established, Prince William and Stafford Counties have been two of the fastest growing counties in VA. This ex-urban sprawl destroys our environment, results in more cars on the road for more miles and wastes time and energy.
„« The current exemption which transfers with the plate allows hybrid owners to upgrade from the few relatively efficient original hybrids to a ¡§new¡¨ hybrid, like the 2008 Toyota Highlander (24 mpg), Lexus RX (24 mgp), or Chevy Tahoe Hybrid (20 mpg). These new ¡§hybrids¡¨ get far worse gas mileage then the car the plate was issued for but they still get the plate and SOV exemption.
„« Hybrids get their best gas mileage when operating in city traffic or stop-and-go traffic, where the electric engine and braking energy recovery result in the highest gas mileage. At freeway speeds, Hybrids are no more efficient then any other vehicle due to the need for the gas engine to be running at full speed to keep the pace.

I would urge you to email him at district39@sov.state.va.us, however he hasn¡¦t responded to my repeated emails but you might have more luck.