Continued awful trips on HOV

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   Your post makes sense, but I wonder if drivers or slugs are moving to hybrids?  That would mean more congestion in HOV and steady congestion in the normal lanes.

	I still don't think Hybrids are to blame, but it's something to think about.

	I have certainly considered getting a hybrid to not have to deal with slugs. Especially on days when I have a perfume-unindated slug or a nail filer. I don't blame the hybrids for the congestion, I blame ill-mannered slugs for the congestion (ok, not really), but you must consider what is driving people to leave the slug system in favor of a peaceful ride to work. It seems to be the law exempting hybrids and law enforcement vehicles that is at issue, but while the exemption exists, I do not blame anyone for taking advantage of it.

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SKCRAB Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 28 Oct 2003 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote SKCRAB Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 13 Nov 2003 at 9:36am
	Your post makes sense, but I wonder if drivers or slugs are moving to hybrids? That would mean more congestion in HOV and steady congestion in the normal lanes. I still don't think Hybrids are to blame, but it's something to think about. I have certainly considered getting a hybrid to not have to deal with slugs. Especially on days when I have a perfume-unindated slug or a nail filer. I don't blame the hybrids for the congestion, I blame ill-mannered slugs for the congestion (ok, not really), but you must consider what is driving people to leave the slug system in favor of a peaceful ride to work. It seems to be the law exempting hybrids and law enforcement vehicles that is at issue, but while the exemption exists, I do not blame anyone for taking advantage of it.

JustWannaGetHome Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 15 Oct 2003 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote JustWannaGetHome Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 13 Nov 2003 at 9:16am
	quote: Originally posted by KCWolfPck [br]Well....if everyone is so certain it is the hybrids, then explain why the traffic in the regular lanes isn't getting better. I would think that with 'ALL THE MASSES OF PEOPLE CHANGING OVER TO HYBRIDS' that the result would be better traffic in the regular lanes. It looks to me that theregular lanes are getting worse as well. So unless people are driving their regular vehicles and their hybrids at the same time....that theory is out the window. Do you think only those that ride in the regular lanes are buying Hybrids? No, it's those that use to wait 20-30 minutes to pick up slugs in the morning/afternoon. It's the riders that want the freedom to leave work now if there's an emergency at home...so the theory that Hybrids are congesting the HOV lanes is not out the window. In fact, a number of times I have taken the HOV lanes up to Springfield and gotten off into the regular lanes knowing I'll move faster than the HOV lanes once past Springfield. The riders in my car always thank me for not having to sit in the congestion.

tlschau Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 23 Jul 2002 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote tlschau Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 12 Nov 2003 at 4:18pm
	Maybe a return to HOV-4 is in the not-too-distant future.

JiggaJynx Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 01 Aug 2003 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote JiggaJynx Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 12 Nov 2003 at 3:20pm
	quote: Originally posted by cdatkins ...if this keeps up, we need to organize slugging to the Springfield Metro (at least from the Woodbridge area) because I would rather be moving on the Metro than stuck in the HOV. Great idea! Some days I need to park at F-S and take the Metro, either because I will be staying quite late at the office or because I have a class to get to. The OmniRide buses between W'bridge and F-S Metro are okay, but the schedule is slow-w-w-w, and the buses fill up quickly. So I end up jumping into the mass of HOV traffic at 5:20 or so just to get to the Metro before HOV restrictions start and then have a very long day. I would LOVE to sleep a little longer and take slugs with me to the Metro.

cdatkins Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 24 Jun 2003 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote cdatkins Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 12 Nov 2003 at 3:14pm
	quote: Originally posted by KCWolfPck [br]Well....if everyone is so certain it is the hybrids, then explain why the traffic in the regular lanes isn't getting better. I would think that with 'ALL THE MASSES OF PEOPLE CHANGING OVER TO HYBRIDS' that the result would be better traffic in the regular lanes. It looks to me that theregular lanes are getting worse as well. So unless people are driving their regular vehicles and their hybrids at the same time....that theory is out the window. Your post makes sense, but I wonder if drivers or slugs are moving to hybrids? That would mean more congestion in HOV and steady congestion in the normal lanes. I still don't think Hybrids are to blame, but it's something to think about.

KCWolfPck Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 12 Nov 2003 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote KCWolfPck Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 12 Nov 2003 at 3:10pm
	Well....if everyone is so certain it is the hybrids, then explain why the traffic in the regular lanes isn't getting better. I would think that with 'ALL THE MASSES OF PEOPLE CHANGING OVER TO HYBRIDS' that the result would be better traffic in the regular lanes. It looks to me that theregular lanes are getting worse as well. So unless people are driving their regular vehicles and their hybrids at the same time....that theory is out the window.

cdatkins Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 24 Jun 2003 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote cdatkins Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 12 Nov 2003 at 2:08pm
	I don't think hybrids OR a moving population can account for the absolute SURGE of backups we have had in HOV over the last month. It seems to be much worse when it rains. Sure, sometimes it backs up when it's nice, but the weather seems to have a lot to do with it. And it's been raining a lot lately...and the flooding certainly makes things back up. I am noticing more localized back-up at the Springfield interchange as well...mostly due to construction. But if this keeps up, we need to organize slugging to the Springfield Metro (at least from the Woodbridge area) because I would rather be moving on the Metro than stuck in the HOV.

sancochojoe Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote sancochojoe Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 12 Nov 2003 at 1:50pm
	The problem is, Hybrids are easy to blame, because it is tangible. When your on the HOV you see a hybrid then you get emotional and blame the whole problem on the hybrid. Nobody is throwing statistics out on the population growth moving outside the beltway. It's not tangible. You cant go to a new residents front door and ask them if they are using the HOV and that they are the cause of the new traffic problem. Or you might even suggest, if you have to nerve, to tell them to move back into the beltway because they are increasing the traffic for long term residents. Or how about telling them, they have until 2007 to move back to the city. As you see, thats not tangible, you cant just throw out blame like you can to hybrid drivers. I've also noticed how traffic has started to stretch past Quantico into Stafford heading north to DC. Should I blame that on the influx of hybrids using the main roads on 95 as well. Sure why not.

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: 12 Nov 2003 at 1:46pm
	It may depend on what time you're looking. But at times, half the cars around me(say 5 of 10), are hybrids. I was rear ended last week by a hybrid in the HOV lanes, and it seems that at least half the accidents in HOV involve a car with CF plates. How is this possible if they make up only a small percentage of the vehicles?

Connie Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 12 Nov 2003 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote Connie Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 12 Nov 2003 at 1:09pm
	I agree that a large problem is increased population. However, I think that it's within the increased population that the Hybrid use can grow. If people bought their homes near the HOV in order to carpool and get to work faster, it stands to reason that some may choose to move further south and purchase Hybrids to both get more affordable housing and a better commute. Hybrids don't have to wait in line and pick up slugs or park and ride so they have the quickest commute - get in your car and go. That's a very attractive option and more people will take advantage of it. If 300 HOV commuters are added to a population area and carpool, that's 100 cars - for every one of those people who choose to drive a Hybrid, that 100 goes up. Perhaps not a significant problem now, but as Bob and others have observed, give it a year or two. HOV should be for vehicles that carry more than one person, plain and simple. (That goes for law enforcement officers not on duty - if they are commuting, they should have to follow the same rules we do.) If exemptions are going to be granted for single riders for who they are or what they drive, then change the name of the roads from HOV so there's no misperception on who the road is for.