The state Assembly says up to 75-thousand hybrid cars should be able to use California's car pool lanes.

It sent the proposal today to Governor Schwarzenegger who supports the idea and is expected to make it law.

View entire article here.

 

What exactly are carpool and diamond lanes?

 

Car pool and diamond lanes are separate traffic lanes that allow commuters to bypass the regular traffic lanes.

The lanes usually have restrictions on who can use them. In most cases you must have more than one person in the car, or drive an environmentally friendly car (like natural gas or electric car). Some states are now allowing hybrid cars to use these lanes, too, regardless of the number of passengers or vehicle emissions rating.

Cities use carpool and diamond lanes as a way to decrease traffic congestion and pollution.

 

Hybrids have always been able to use the diamond lanes in Virginia. And the dealerships use that as a selling point. Must have the special fuel tags though.

 

Wouldn't it actually be smarter to let regular traffic flow while hybrid cars wait? Since hybrids cause less emissions while idling (sometimes none at all)?? But then again, this would be a nice incentive for one to consider a hybrid.

 

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Okay, okay. From this day forward, all hybrid owners must treat every intersection as a 4-way stop. Oh, and always yield to the non-hybrid owner

 

I would think that forcing hybrids to wait while letting regular traffic flow would be tremendous incentive to NOT buy a hybrid. And I speak as a veteran of Seattle's roads. If I, as a hybrid owner, had to wait for traffic, I'd wait FOREVER.

Thus, there's no way I'd get a hybrid.

 

Haha, yes. We realize. Just being facetious is all

 

Diamond lanes are also found in downtown Chicago, where they give priority use of the right lane to transit buses (except where cars must turn right).

I remember, when I first heard of the concept of high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, drafting a cartoon. No people, just a rectangular road sign featuring the diamond and the words

High-occupancy lovers' lane

3 or more people required in vehicle

:o