Comments on: ok, scratch that about SUVs http://www.ibabuzz.com/transportation/2008/04/10/ok-scratch-that-about-suvs/ Getting around the Bay Area with Denis Cuff and the Queen of the Road Tue, 17 May 2011 06:04:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: miked http://www.ibabuzz.com/transportation/2008/04/10/ok-scratch-that-about-suvs/comment-page-1/#comment-3106 miked Tue, 15 Apr 2008 20:06:40 +0000 http://www.ibabuzz.com/transportation/2008/04/10/ok-scratch-that-about-suvs/#comment-3106 The East Bay carpool lanes require 3 people in the car, which seems fine to me. If that would help resolve congestion other places, that might work well. That said, having been in a car with 2 in San Jose, I often see solo drivers in the carpool lane during carpool lane hours- maybe there just needs to be more enforcement in the South Bay. The East Bay carpool lanes require 3 people in the car, which seems fine to me. If that would help resolve congestion other places, that might work well. That said, having been in a car with 2 in San Jose, I often see solo drivers in the carpool lane during carpool lane hours- maybe there just needs to be more enforcement in the South Bay.

]]> By: Capricious Commuter http://www.ibabuzz.com/transportation/2008/04/10/ok-scratch-that-about-suvs/comment-page-1/#comment-3107 Capricious Commuter Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:59:26 +0000 http://www.ibabuzz.com/transportation/2008/04/10/ok-scratch-that-about-suvs/#comment-3107 But Reedman, we shouldn't throw the carpool out with the baby. :p But Reedman, we shouldn’t throw the carpool out with the baby. :p

]]> By: Reedman http://www.ibabuzz.com/transportation/2008/04/10/ok-scratch-that-about-suvs/comment-page-1/#comment-3105 Reedman Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:18:21 +0000 http://www.ibabuzz.com/transportation/2008/04/10/ok-scratch-that-about-suvs/#comment-3105 The reasoning behind having someone driving with a baby in a car seat being able to use a carpool lane escapes me. The reasoning behind having someone driving with a baby in a car seat being able to use a carpool lane escapes me.

]]> By: miked http://www.ibabuzz.com/transportation/2008/04/10/ok-scratch-that-about-suvs/comment-page-1/#comment-3109 miked Fri, 11 Apr 2008 21:33:07 +0000 http://www.ibabuzz.com/transportation/2008/04/10/ok-scratch-that-about-suvs/#comment-3109 Carpool lanes are essentail to the efficiency of organized carpools, vanpools, and some bus routes. The express lane is the only way to make up for the time lost due to extra stops and the inconvenience of fixed start and end times. If the carpool lane were to become as congested as other lanes, many people who take these carpools, vanpools and busses would drive, and then we would all suffer from the increased congestion and increased emissions. Carpool lanes are essentail to the efficiency of organized carpools, vanpools, and some bus routes. The express lane is the only way to make up for the time lost due to extra stops and the inconvenience of fixed start and end times. If the carpool lane were to become as congested as other lanes, many people who take these carpools, vanpools and busses would drive, and then we would all suffer from the increased congestion and increased emissions.

]]> By: Michael Krueger http://www.ibabuzz.com/transportation/2008/04/10/ok-scratch-that-about-suvs/comment-page-1/#comment-3108 Michael Krueger Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:03:46 +0000 http://www.ibabuzz.com/transportation/2008/04/10/ok-scratch-that-about-suvs/#comment-3108 With sincere apologies to my Prius-driving friends, I'll say that this demonstrates the folly of allowing "clean-air vehicles" in the carpool lanes in the first place. Carpool lanes are primarily about congestion, with emissions reduction an important but secondary benefit. Allowing "green" single-occupancy cars in the carpool lanes does NOTHING about congestion. People were actually able to take Sen. Battin's proposal seriously because the carpool lane sticker program opened the door to thinking of the carpool lane as a prize to be given away to those who are doing something "green," rather than a means to mitigate congestion. This is the real root of the ridiculousness, and until the carpool lanes are returned to their original purpose, you can only expect the chorus of "me too!" to grow louder and louder. With sincere apologies to my Prius-driving friends, I’ll say that this demonstrates the folly of allowing “clean-air vehicles” in the carpool lanes in the first place. Carpool lanes are primarily about congestion, with emissions reduction an important but secondary benefit. Allowing “green” single-occupancy cars in the carpool lanes does NOTHING about congestion.

People were actually able to take Sen. Battin’s proposal seriously because the carpool lane sticker program opened the door to thinking of the carpool lane as a prize to be given away to those who are doing something “green,” rather than a means to mitigate congestion. This is the real root of the ridiculousness, and until the carpool lanes are returned to their original purpose, you can only expect the chorus of “me too!” to grow louder and louder.

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