Question for Hybrid drivers on HOV
Printed From: Slug-Lines.com
Category: Archived Slugging Topics
Forum Name: Hybrids
Forum Description: This area is devoted to the discussion of hybrid vehicles and their impact to the HOV.
URL: http://www.slug-lines.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1009
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Topic: Question for Hybrid drivers on HOV
Posted By: DC2RV
Subject: Question for Hybrid drivers on HOV
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2004 at 12:39pm
Prior to driving your hybrids how did you commute? I'm just curious to know if previously, you were slug drivers, slug riders, carpoolers, metroriders, etc...
Thanks.
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Replies:
Posted By: avalanche22
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2004 at 12:43pm
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That's a good question DC2RV. I guess some Hybrid drivers/owners think they might be too good to pick up a slug.
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Posted By: DC2RV
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2004 at 12:48pm
That wasn't my point, but that's been discussed in other topics. I'm just curious as to what they did before.
Cause and effect I guess. One less person in line could mean less of a wait. One less car could mean a longer wait. One less metro rider means more available seating, more of a fair hike, etc...
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Posted By: aceofspade
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2004 at 1:41pm
I am *considering* a hybrid vehicle primarily due to the HOV privilege. I don't believe Maryland offers the HOV allowance, though.
And I don't think I'm too good for slugs, but I certainly would enjoy driving straight in to work.
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Posted By: Mrs.KLB
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2004 at 2:22pm
I think right now most people are buying Hybrid dues to the outrageous gas prices and the extra perk is you get to ride alone,driving straight in to work with out the commuter lot detour can be rather gratifying,On the rare occasions that I get to ride to and from work alone I do feel a bit more relaxed and comfortable, I just put in a good CD and take all that good old I95 has to dish out!
Mrs. B
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Posted By: Stuck2
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2004 at 2:35pm
I think gas played a part and the flexibility. Being a single parent, dealing with the home/school obligations was becoming a real chore. Before I moved farther out, I used to take back roads (Army Navy, etc.) to the 14th Street Bridge. I have commuted every which way in this area -- bus to metro, carpool, driving, etc. I have even used the slug lines. I'm not too good to pick up a slug and will be doing so after summer (kid's camp and all, I won't be on the main highways).
Hey, HOV exemptions will be a thing of the past shortly for Hybrids.
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Posted By: Stuck2
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2004 at 2:42pm
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I also don't recommend the Hybrids solely for the HOV exemptions to my co-workers who ask. There are issues with the hybrids that you really have to want one for other reasons. If you stay away from SUVs and large 6-cylinder cars and mini-vans and the horrendous Hummer, you can do well in gas mileage. I also heard there's now a several month waiting list.
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Posted By: wdossel
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2004 at 3:00pm
quote:
Originally posted by Mrs.KLB
[br]I think right now most people are buying Hybrid dues to the outrageous gas prices and the extra perk is you get to ride alone,driving straight in to work with out the commuter lot detour can be rather gratifying,On the rare occasions that I get to ride to and from work alone I do feel a bit more relaxed and comfortable, I just put in a good CD and take all that good old I95 has to dish out!
Mrs. B
One metric, number and rate of CF vehicle registrations in NoVA, you will find that the HOV exemption is the more likely reason, ratehr than gas prices. Believe NoVA now has the largest concentration of hybrids outside of SoCal.
- Will
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Posted By: Stuck2
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2004 at 3:11pm
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Given the numbers on the road, that'll kill the exemption.
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Posted By: vabigblue
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2004 at 4:24pm
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Yesterday going home, I saw a Ford Explorer with CF plates! What's up?
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Posted By: avalanche22
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2004 at 4:28pm
Vabigblue.
That's the next big thing. Hybrid SUV's. I think some time this year Ford will release a Escape that will be a Hybrid. But I've seen a few cars on the HOV that have CF plates. I've seen a older unmark police car, Explorer, I even saw a old blazer with CF plates. Not sure if either of them where real CF cars but they had the plates.
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Posted By: slugbug
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2004 at 4:33pm
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....and How about the VW Bugs? Are THEY CF vehicles as well? I saw one with the CF Tags, and I was Confused??????[?]
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Posted By: USA
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2004 at 5:41pm
Re Ford Explorer and VW:
The CF plates are NOT only for hybrids, contrary to popular perception. CF stands for "Clean Fuel," or "Clean Special Fuel" as it says on the license plate. There are a number of "Clean Fuels" that qualify for the CF plate, some of which are mandated by FEDERAL law. Vehicles powered by compressed natural gas (aka CNG) and propane are two good examples. Electric cars would qualify if there are any around, and presumably hydrogen-powered cars if they ever become practical (I know Mazda has tested a hydrogen-powered RX-8).
I know at least two people who have CNG-powered vehicles with CF plates, but you wouldn't necessarily know it simply from looking at the vehicles (a car and a minivan). So it is possible that the Ford Explorer and the VW in question may be powered by an alternative fuel. (Someone wrote into Dr. Gridlock last fall about an old Mercury with CF tags and Dr. Gridlock essentially accused the person of being a cheater--and wound up with egg on his face when the person wrote in to say that his car was powered by a legitimate clean fuel. Dr. Gridlock apparently thought CF was for hybrids only.) One thing to consider is that many, although not all, CNG- or propane-powered cars may be older vehicles. The reason is that people retrofit older cars to run on these fuels. Because you can't really use these cars for long-distance travel (too hard to find filling stations), they are essentially for commuting purposes only, and it doesn't necessarily make sense to buy an expensive new car for use solely for commuting.
One thing to note, as well, is that Honda has a CNG-powered Civic (the Civic GX) that qualifies for the CF tag. I've seen a few of them on the road around here. Because the CNG exemption for HOV is a matter of federal law, those Civics will continue to qualify for the HOV exemption even if Virginia phases out the exemption for hybrids. Betcha there'll be a lot of people fussing about "those cheaters" when that occurs!
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Posted By: Luvmyhybrid
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2004 at 8:03pm
We bought our hybrid for a variety of reasons...first, to answer your question, yes, we're sluggers and drivers. The hybrid purchase was first and foremost because of convenience...avoiding commuter lot traffic when needed, having to get to/from work in an emergency (and yes, in our jobs, it does happen), and the biggest (and most valuable) reason was because of gas consumption. Using less gas is a smart thing for this country to be doing.
PS -- our hybrid goes fast when it needs to ...it's not a poker. Blaming the hybrid for going slow is the WRONG conclusion, unfortunately, it's the owner of the right foot that has all the control.
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Posted By: DC2RV
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2004 at 8:39pm
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It's nice of so many of you to reply, but back to my original question - How did you commute prior to using a Hybrid?
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Posted By: Luvmyhybrid
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2004 at 8:46pm
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slugging and driving...nothing's changed.
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Posted By: churchlady
Date Posted: 03 Jun 2004 at 9:12am
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DH is still usually carrying 2 (or more) others in the car in the a.m. The hybrid has meant no last minute problems when the third person can't go in. In the p.m. he usually only had 1 passenger and the hybrid makes the arrival home time more predictable. This predictability is important for medical reasons.
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Posted By: ScarletLSG
Date Posted: 03 Jun 2004 at 10:33pm
DC2RV,
Prior to owning a Hybrid, I could NOT work at any of the IT firms in the Dulles corridor. In my line of work, this is the primary locale with open positions. My husband and I live on the Quantico base and without the HOV lanes I couldn't get up there in less than 2 hours. I tried picking up slugs and dropping at the Pentagon, then hitting 110 to 66 to the Toll Road ... but the side tracks ended up taking up as much time as waiting out 95. Additionally, having two kiddos and a Marine hubby means that I need to have a measure of predictability in my commute. My SOLE purpose for buying a Hybrid was for the HOV lanes and the ability to work. We are temporary residents ... by the time the law expires, we hope to be out of here. The residual benefits have also been nice -- tax breaks and gas mileage!!!
Most likely we'll own hybrid vehicles from this point on ... it is nice to fuel up only once every 10 days or so.
ScarletLSG
quote:
Originally posted by DC2RV
[br]It's nice of so many of you to reply, but back to my original question - How did you commute prior to using a Hybrid?
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Posted By: Uhura
Date Posted: 04 Jun 2004 at 3:29pm
quote:
Originally posted by Mrs.KLB
[br]I think right now most people are buying Hybrid dues to the outrageous gas prices and the extra perk is you get to ride alone,driving straight in to work with out the commuter lot detour can be rather gratifying,On the rare occasions that I get to ride to and from work alone I do feel a bit more relaxed and comfortable, I just put in a good CD and take all that good old I95 has to dish out!
Mrs. B
Someone told me that the Hybrid HOV option will expire soon
Here's what I found. Apparently it expires in July 2006:
http://www.virginiadot.org/comtravel/hov-rulesfaq.asp
Live Long and Prosper
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Posted By: Rus
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2004 at 12:17pm
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Thanks for the website referral. I had no idea that Congress was considering legislation to allow the continued use of hybrids in the HOV lanes even though the HOV Task Force recommended that it is time to get the hybrids out of the exemption. Looks like there is still going to be a battle ahead. Time to write the Congressmen/women.
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Posted By: motownldy199
Date Posted: 15 Jun 2004 at 9:49am
quote:
Originally posted by Rus
[br]Thanks for the website referral. I had no idea that Congress was considering legislation to allow the continued use of hybrids in the HOV lanes even though the HOV Task Force recommended that it is time to get the hybrids out of the exemption. Looks like there is still going to be a battle ahead. Time to write the Congressmen/women.
Before purchasing a hybrid, I took Metro and rode the bus.
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Posted By: sluDgE
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2004 at 11:33am
KaTaNa,
... love it! But where are this new hybrid's seats to haul 2 slugs when the HOV hybrid exemption expires? LOL ... keep'em coming! [^]
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Posted By: DC2RV
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2004 at 1:55pm
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Lisa Baden, traffic reporter for WTOP et al, has been advertising the Ford Escape Hybrid that was to be release this week.
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Posted By: hopebl
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2004 at 3:25pm
Hybrids are really cute cars, but, I think one should think about it long and hard. If everyone goes out and buy hybrids the HOV is going and is getting congested just like the regular lanes.
Granted slugging has its advantages and disadvantages, but, I think HOV has been running smoothly for umteen years. . .now its getting kind of shakey with all the single riders.
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Posted By: mirangus
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2004 at 4:11pm
I can't wait to see what happens to all the hybrid drivers if/when the HOV exemption is nixed in '06...betcha the market is gonna positively flood with used hybrids!! We'll see then just who purchase them for their "exceptional gas mileage" and "positive effect on the environment"!!
"Nixed in '06"....hmmmmmm, pretty catchy...I think some politician should latch onto that one...
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Posted By: USA
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2004 at 5:17pm
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If a car like the Acura TL were available as a hybrid, I'd buy one in an instant when the time comes for a new car, regardless of the HOV thing. My complaint about the current hybrids is that they're all too small (and, in the case of the Prius and the Insight, too ugly). There are persistent rumors of a hybrid Honda Accord coming sometime soon, but I wouldn't be surprised if the hybrid Escape causes Honda to focus on the CR-V instead.
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Posted By: Rosebud
Date Posted: 18 Jun 2004 at 8:36am
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When I drive in each morning I like to get a sense of how many hybrids are in the HOV. Maybe its my imagination, but it seems like they are as abundant as ciccadas. Someone should do a study to see what percentage of HOV cars are hybrids. I can understand why people buy them, no one really like strangers in their car. They should have to take at least one other person... in my opinion.
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Posted By: emancilla
Date Posted: 18 Jun 2004 at 8:52am
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To be fair with people who drive hybrids, some of them take more than one person. Again, HOV lanes were created to decreased the amount of cars in the highway. Hybrids defeat the purpose if they're occupied by one person.
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Posted By: vabigblue
Date Posted: 18 Jun 2004 at 11:02am
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As emancilla says, some do take or have more than one person and that's a plus. There are a lot of Hybrids driving around on the HOV lanes. A quarter of the vehicle there are probably Hybrids.
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Posted By: Stuck2
Date Posted: 18 Jun 2004 at 12:20pm
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I think a quarter is an exaggeration. But the number has increased dramatically over the past year. Hybrid owners will loose their exemption once there's a hybrid SUV on the market -- NBC4 said last night Ford will have one available by end of summer for about $27-28,000.
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Posted By: Stuck2
Date Posted: 18 Jun 2004 at 3:11pm
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The exemption is conditional and if there is such an influx of hybrids on the HOV that the HOV lanes shut down, the exemption could be taken away before then (if the lawmakers, etc. want to actually do work). Yes, it automatically ends in 2006 and there's always the chance it could be extended, but I really don't think it will unless the lawmakers are in the car maker's pocket.
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Posted By: Rosebud
Date Posted: 18 Jun 2004 at 3:28pm
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Can't see it happening that they extend the law. By then the HOV will be predominately all hybrids. What have they solved?
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Posted By: Stuck2
Date Posted: 18 Jun 2004 at 3:36pm
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Probably in the lawmakers typical short sightedness they weren't thinking that everyone would ditch their normal cars to purchase a fairly small, fairly expensive car just to get on HOV. It was an incentive to get people to purchase more hybrid fuel cars in an attempt to clean up air?? I don't know. I see no reason why the exemption couldn't end (I'm a hybrid owner). I'm also willing to see it end even if it takes out my "free" ride (I travel with two). I like the car now for the gas savings!
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Posted By: Max_28756
Date Posted: 21 Jun 2004 at 12:37pm
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The new name for the HOV will be Hybrid Only Vehicles.
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Posted By: glacier
Date Posted: 21 Jun 2004 at 1:19pm
Max,
Nice one!
Cheers,
Glacier
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Posted By: ScarletLSG
Date Posted: 21 Jun 2004 at 4:19pm
Not all of us though "ditched" our normal car to get on HOV. I can't tell you how many people I work with, have no "HOV" reason to purchase a Hybrid, yet are. Specifically, I work for a small software development firm with 65 employees that live in NoVA, DC, or MD. Of the 65, TEN have purchased hybrids in the past 2 years ... and only ONE of the ten bought with the HOV lane access as the driving factor (that ONE was me). The other nine bought for the gas mileage or environmental reasons.
Like you, I also like the gas mileage benefit. However, for me, if the HOV exemption were eliminated I would most likely have to quit my job. There's NO WAY, even with slugging, I could commute from Quantico to Reston.
ScarletLSG
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Posted By: MDC
Date Posted: 22 Jun 2004 at 8:51am
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This is an interesting discussion. Hybrids are not cleaner than many non-hybrid cars for one. It would take more than ten years to save enough gas to make up for the huge difference in vehicle cost between a hybrid and a similar non-hybrid.
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Posted By: Wagonman
Date Posted: 22 Jun 2004 at 11:24am
quote:
Originally posted by MDC
[br]This is an interesting discussion. Hybrids are not cleaner than many non-hybrid cars for one. It would take more than ten years to save enough gas to make up for the huge difference in vehicle cost between a hybrid and a similar non-hybrid.
I wonder how long it will take and how many times people will have to say it until it sinks in that hybrids aren't automatically cleaner than other cars? Honda Civic hybrids are dirty compared to a lot other cars.
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Posted By: fugitiveALiEN
Date Posted: 24 Jun 2004 at 3:21pm
I originally began my hybrid research to purchase as a multi-faceted justification, mainly to assist me in my commute from fairfax to crystal city. Whenever possible i would meet relatives at my house (in greenbriar) hop on 66 at the stringfellow hov ramp and proceed to shoot up 66 to the glebe road exit where they worked, it was smoooth, and on the days where i couldn't carpool which became often, i started to wonder... and that was just to glebe road, usually i would continue on past the glebe road exit, with my carpoolers, and then have them drive BACK to work due to the fact that the "rest of the way" was still restricted and 29 was crap. Major General Hassle was not what we were all looking for [;)]. Before carpooling that route, generally i would use a combination of going up rt 29 all the way to 110 or rt 50 to 66, then off somewhere along the way at one of the exits when it got bad to come off at 495 and them hop right onto gallows, to 29 to 110. Then other "benefits" or should i say "justifications" kept the incentive to get one. Quick on and off of 66, hov lanes are much quicker, tax writeoff, better gas mileage, the cool gadget/car-nut aspect... etc.
However this was back in 2002.
That all changed over the course of the year or two i was commuting that route, for the most part directly up 66 from stringfellow to rt 110, in just 1 year it went from good to bad to worse. However alternatively i noticed the job market getting better and better, meaning more on the road meant better jobs, better economy, etc, the fact that we're doing so well, yet so bad on the roads is because people have to get to work and more jobs for me to try and get closer to home i hoped ;) Which now i commute to 7 corners, another fiasco, but i am on an alternate shift later in the day.
Since then every time i try to use 66 for hov, it's just ridiculously pointless. In fact towards the end of the good-bad-worse commute on HOV to work in crystal city i would go 5 miles or so out of my way to hop onto the toll-road to avoid the fiasco that is the 495 wall where hardly 1 lane of hov traffic can move because of the ramps at 495 and the extended backups from the other 4 to 3 to just 2 lane disaster at the westmoreland/rt29 exit. Going OUT of my way would cut more than 15 minutes off. I don't attribute it to hybrids, but just more people. Anyhow i've got a much shorter commute now, so if anyone wants to buy a slightly used hybrid let me know, my worst gas budget is still less than my car payment ;) and since my wife isn't working anymore, it's time to say goodbye =)P
http://www.4g64.com/gallery/prius
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Posted By: qorc
Date Posted: 07 Feb 2005 at 7:09am
I slugged for 2 years.
But since last summer, it became almost impossible to even park at the 234 lot. I was having to go earlier and earlier. Like by 6:20 now. It got ridiculous. I felt like I had no alternative.
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Posted By: tdar20
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2005 at 3:57pm
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I bought a Hybrid Honda Civic a couple of years ago. Prior to that I car pooled, slugged and I drove and picked up folks. I bought the Hybrid to simply save time. By avoiding the slug lines I shaved off almost 20 minutes of my commute from rte 17 each day. That being said I kept the Hybrid for about 18 months and then sold it for a Toyota Highlander and started taking the train, thinking that it would be easier to use the VRE to get to Crystal City. After about a year of pulling my hair out on the train due to every day delays I am back to picking up sluggs in my new car....a nice BMW I am happy to say!!
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Posted By: WM_DC
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2005 at 7:13pm
I bought a hybrid almost 2 years ago. Before that did a number of things ...carpool, VRE, and the bus.
(1) Carpool experience - when I was a member of a carpool - When my carpool members came on time (70% of the time)... things worked great but sometimes 1 or both members would not show so then I would pick up slugs. Total commute - 1.5 to 1.75 hour each way when you consider the time waiting for carpool members or slugs.
(2) Train experience - I tried the train but my commute was over 2 hours each way (20 minute drive to the train station, then 1 hr 20 minute train ride, then metro for 20 minutes, and then walk to my office).
(3) Bus from Rt 17 - always on time in the morning but the commute usually took at least 1.5 total in the am since I was close to the last stop. In the evening - the commute home became 1 hour and 45 minutes since the bus has to make 2 stops at route 610. Also, National Coach buses could be anywhere from "on time" to an hour or more late. In addition, you never new which bus you would get. If it was a new bus - nice and clean and nice ride. But the older buses smell and some of the seats are broken. I have a fragile spine and could not tolerate the older buses or the stop/start driving.
I finally bought a hybrid for several reasons - (1) I am a working mother and I was spending over 3 hours (almost 4 hours) a day commuting. This was very difficult for me and my family. (2) Although my husband usually does bus duty in the morning, when he leaves town it is very difficult to coordinate getting children off to school and trying to make a carpool, the last bus north, or the train. Also, when they have doctor appts or get sick at school, I needed to be able to get home. (3) Also, my fragile spine could not take the "older buses" anymore.
If I see slugs at route 17 when I leave in the morning, I pick them up but usually by the time I leave, the slug line has diminished. And sometimes on the way home (at 6:30 pm) I loop through the Pentagon parking lot and pick up a slug to drop off at rt 610 or 17. So people who own hybrids are not all bad or selfish. Like everyone else, we are just trying to balance family life, our health, and help the environment.
PS - If we had a bus system "like OMNI Ride" that is clean, on time, had decent shocks and seats, and left at later hours so that mothers like me can get their kids off to school when needed .... I would go back to taking the bus.
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Posted By: bstebbs
Date Posted: 22 Feb 2005 at 11:46am
In response to your question about how I used to commute prior to owning a Hybrid. I used to pick up slugs. I live in Stafford and my wife worked in Georgetown and then Ballston. So, we'd pick up a slug, drop them off either at the Pentagon, Crystal City, or Rosslyn, and then I'd drop my wife off and complete my commute to Tysons Corner. That probably took an hour and 15 minutes to an hour and a half to complete this one-way commute. And then, we'd do the same thing on the way back.
My wife then stopped working so it was just myself and so to circumvent the commute, we bought a hybrid so that I could take HOV up to the beltway and then take the beltway around to Tysons Corner. This has saved 20-30 minutes off of my commute. Plus, I got a tax brake for purchasing the hybrid plus I've saved a ton of money in gas.
So, it was a no-brainer decision for me.
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Posted By: NoSUV
Date Posted: 22 Feb 2005 at 2:19pm
I bought my hybrid when living in another state. The job market brought me and 600K of my closest friends. I got the hybrid for the gas mileage = reduced reliance on the Middle East and better for the environment.
Hybrids aren't the whole problem - it's infantile to think so. Where do the hybrid drivers come from? If from regular lanes, then there should be easing of that congestion mess, and I certainly don't see it? If from slugs, then the commuter lots would have less cars, and I don't see that either. That leaves drivers who were picking up slugs before and now are not (possible) or just more people coming into the area commuting (probable). Clinton said "it's the economy, stupid." This is a case of "it's the increase in total numbers of commuters, stupid."
The way to lower the crunch has nothing to do with hybrid exemption, and everything to do with getting the total number of cars off the road. We should focus the great energy of this forum to get the legislature to pay us (and our bosses) to have us work from satellite offices.
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Posted By: dzthomp
Date Posted: 24 Feb 2005 at 7:57pm
quote:
Originally posted by DC2RV
[br]Prior to driving your hybrids how did you commute? I'm just curious to know if previously, you were slug drivers, slug riders, carpoolers, metroriders, etc...
Thanks.
I have commuted from PW to Alex for over 20 years. I used 95, the "back roads" through Clifton and Burke and rode the VRE.
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Posted By: dzthomp
Date Posted: 24 Feb 2005 at 7:57pm
quote:
Originally posted by DC2RV
[br]Prior to driving your hybrids how did you commute? I'm just curious to know if previously, you were slug drivers, slug riders, carpoolers, metroriders, etc...
Thanks.
I have commuted from PW to Alex for over 20 years. I used 95, the "back roads" through Clifton and Burke and rode the VRE.
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