California HOV Hybrid Owners Get Nasty

by Edward Niedermeyer

Published: January 21st, 2010

In 2005, California opened its High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) or carpool lanes to hybrid drivers, as an incentive for Californians to purchase more fuel-efficient vehicles. Without a stickered hybrid, HOV lanes are only allowed to be used by vehicles with two or more occupants. But this hybrid perk expires at the end of this year, meaning California’s hybrid owners will no longer be able to drive in the HOV lane as a single-occupancy vehicle. In their anger, a few of the estimated 85k HOV pass holders are letting their ugly hybrid superiority complexes hang out for all to see in the San Jose Mercury News’s Roadshow column. One hybrid owner writes:

Some critics had a choice in buying their vehicle. Did you choose to buy a gas hog-pig SUV or truck, BMW 300 series [sic], a Mercedes-Benz E-class or a safety-first Volvo? You knew these cars didn’t qualify for the carpool lane because they are environmentally unfriendly. You made a conscious choice to be self-centered and materialistic and now you all are projecting your selfishness upon hybrid owners

I love the smell of entitlement in the morning…

But it’s not just that hybrid drivers are saving the planet… the law’s expiration is just jealousy on the part of the selfish and environmentally unfriendly who hate hybrids because they get totheir destinations faster.

All of you with contempt for hybrid car owners having access to the carpool lane need to take a long look in the mirror. Why should any of us that purchased the qualifying cars and appropriate stickers be booted from the carpool lanes?… Each qualifying car is one fewer in other lanes among the nightmarish morning and evening commutes. Do you mean to tell me that we should be punished for having the financial foresight and environmental compassion for purchasing these luxuries? Why, because we cruise past you as you sit in 35 mph-or-less traffic on the freeways?

Sigh. Here’s the thing: if buying a hybrid is the right thing to do based on your value system, why do you need the bonus perk of a free pass to occupy the HOV lane even though you’re the only one in your Prius? After all, isn’t the HOV hybrid exception really an incentive against carpooling, and therefore, environmental responsibility? [via GreenCarReports.com]

#California #Green #HOV #Hybrid #Traffic

Edward Niedermeyer

More by Edward Niedermeyer

Comments

Join the conversation

2 of 94 comments

Carlisimo on Jan 21, 2010

GM should be praying that California keeps this program going. For a time, used Priuses with stickers were selling for $4,000 more than Priuses without. If you apply that to the Volt, that’s another $4,000 of “subsidy” that brings it closer to the realm of affordability!

Like Reply
Dave M. on Jan 21, 2010

Prii are smug, but if they offered a wagon version, and the cost difference was

Like Reply

Recent Comments

TheEndlessEnigma Poor planning here, dropping a Vinfast dealer in Pensacola FL is just not going to work. I love Pensacola and that part of the Gulf Coast, but that area is by no means an EV adoption demographic.
Keith Most of the stanced VAGS with roof racks are nuisance drivers in my area. Very likely this one's been driven hard. And that silly roof rack is extra $'s, likely at full retail lol. Reminds me of the guys back in the late 20th century would put in their ads that the installed aftermarket stereo would be a negotiated extra. Were they going to go find and reinstall that old Delco if you didn't want the Kraco/Jenson set up they hacked in?
MaintenanceCosts Poorly packaged, oddly proportioned small CUV with an unrefined hybrid powertrain and a luxury-market price? Who wouldn't want it?
MaintenanceCosts Who knows whether it rides or handles acceptably or whether it chews up a set of tires in 5000 miles, but we definitely know it has a "mature stance."Sounds like JUST the kind of previous owner you'd want…
28-Cars-Later Nissan will be very fortunate to not be in the Japanese equivalent of Chapter 11 reorganization over the next 36 months, "getting rolling" is a luxury (also, I see what you did there).