Continued awful trips on HOV

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Originally posted by cindyds
[br]What’s very irksome about allowing Hybrids in the HOV lanes is that from an environmental POV, it’s really dumb, and shows the fundamental ignorance of the VA lawmakers about how they work. Hybrids save gas/reduce pollution during stop-and-go city driving. So having a hybrid makes no sense if all you do is highway driving. If you’re really interested in the environment, then the smartest thing to do is encourage hybrid use in the city, or busy suburbs. A hybrid has NO different effect on the environment from an efficient, compact car when the primary use is highway, such as on the HOV lanes.

Owners will likely argue that the HOV rule encourages hybrid purchase to begin with. But surely there’s a better way. Those of us who slug can take comfort in the law’s expiration in 2006…and its unlikely renewal, given that the law violates Federal rules and would result in the loss of VA’s matched highway funds.

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With all due respect, there are at least two other threads that you should read below that pretty much exhaust all debatable facets of this. We barely survived without resorting to (too many) personal attacks.

Kindest Regards,

mroyal

A hybrid car is an electric and gas car that works off of both, so it's really fuel efficient.

Well, I will buy a hybrid soon, and not just to get on the HOV.
I think any push to have anything more efficient is a plus.
I personally don't like paying $50 to fill up an SUV so I would never buy one. Gas will not get any cheaper either.

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Originally posted by viper
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Originally posted by argentinian_belle
[br]A hybrid car is an electric and gas car that works off of both, so it's really fuel efficient.

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mroyal knows what a "hybrid" car is... he wants to know what a "hybird" car is...duh!

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There's no reason to be mean. I didn't notice the difference of spelling. I bet there are many people out there who don't know what a HYBRID car is.

No matter what, the problem is volume and more volume and it will get worse.

I admire hybrid buyers for the environmental gesture and would like to buy a hybrid car next, but not just to get a jump on HOV. I think hybrids should pick up riders just the same, no exceptions, because HOV is the one thing that helps move more people and decrease volume. I wouldn't mind going back to HOV 4. (Years ago I took HOV 4 with my little VW sun bug! Those were the days.)

Here's an even crazier idea: All (or more of) the 95 lanes should be HOV at rush hour, no exceptions for hybrids. New lines and destinations would form, and the lanes would carry more volume. Hey, compared with that, dropping the hybrid exception is mild! I know I know, blasphemy, madness.

Finally, I don't like the idea of HOT lanes, because ultimately they won't ease volume. It just means that people with more superfluous cash will have an advantage, as usual, and they will just add to the congestion and make life worse for the rest of us. Who decides about HOV/HOT designations? VDOT? Is there a limit to the hybrid exception now?

Thanks--