HOV lanes are pretty prevalent in US metropolitan areas and are crucial to letting buses get into the cities during rush hour.

The goals are to encourage mass transit and to encourage car pools.

However, small high mileage cars would mathematically achieve many of the same goals.

Allow hybrids, Smarts, and other cars that fit the bill to use these lanes.
-- theircompetitor, Mar 05 2004

Tango http://www.commutercars.com
Two Tangos might be more efficient than one carpool. [scad mientist, Oct 04 2004]

Mercedes Smart http://www.thesmart.co.uk/index.html
[theircompetitor, Oct 04 2004]

I'm having trouble seeing how the math works out. Maybe if you showed your work :)

Small efficient cars may work towards the same goals as carpools and mass transit, but they don't come close in how far they get. How can driving two small cars come close to the space efficiency of carpooling? Well, maybe if they were driving Tangos (see link). But even with Tangos you can't come close to the efficiency of mass transit.

This idea might reduce the number of SUVs on the road, but unless carpools and transit were given some additional advantage over small cars, I'm guessing a lot of people would stop using them entirely. In the end, I suspect this would make the problem even worse.

I suppose if there were enough lanes you could leave the HOV lane as in but restrict all large or inefficient cars to the right lane. I'd hate to see the debate on that one.
-- scad mientist, Mar 05 2004


scad -- I thought not showing your work was the whole point :)

Since smaller cars are smaller, more can be packed safely. Think about arteries: less cholestorol is good, but you definitely DON'T want large buses -- you want lots of small platelets. Imagine everyone riding bikes.
-- theircompetitor, Mar 05 2004


According to the CHP (California Highway Patrol) "full electric" and "full compressed gas" fueled vehicles are allowed in carpool (HOV) lanes in California. No hybrids at this time. (From phone call to CHP)
-- oxen crossing, Mar 05 2004


The same is true for Arizona. AFVs (Air Friendly Vehicles) are allowed to use the HOV or diamond lanes. AFVs include motorcycles, electric, hybrid, and carpool vehicles.
-- GenYus, Mar 05 2004



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