Fair or foul? Hybrids allowed in carpool lanes regardless of # of occupants.
LOS ANGELES Aug 4, 2005 — Hybrid car owners are fast approaching the day when they will be allowed to drive solo in California's car pool lanes.
State lawmakers passed a bill last year that gave some types of the high-mileage, low-emission vehicles access to the coveted lanes a privilege meant to encourage drivers to buy the environmentally friendly cars.
California's law was supposed to take effect Jan. 1 but first needed approval from the federal government. That permission was tucked into a $286 billion transportation bill Congress passed last week, meaning there is just one last strand of red tape keeping hybrids out of the high-occupancy vehicle lanes: State air regulators need to clarify which vehicles meet the mileage and emissions standards.
The policy's supporters hope hybrids will be allowed in the car pool lanes by year's end.
"Knowing that you're able to drive in that car pool lane would be huge, and I think it would attract others to say, `Hey, I should have a car like this as well,'" said Andrew Werts, a 31-year-old marketing director from Redondo Beach who recently sold his SUV and bought a Toyota Prius.
Only two other models Honda's hybrid Civic and Insight meet the eligibility standards of at least 45 miles per gallon and almost no smog-causing emissions, according to an aide to the author of California's bill, Assemblywoman Fran Pavley, a Democrat.
California will become the second state to allow hybrids with just one person in the car to use car pool lanes. Virginia enacted the change in 2000, and Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia and Minnesota are considering it.
LOS ANGELES Aug 4, 2005 — Hybrid car owners are fast approaching the day when they will be allowed to drive solo in California's car pool lanes.
State lawmakers passed a bill last year that gave some types of the high-mileage, low-emission vehicles access to the coveted lanes a privilege meant to encourage drivers to buy the environmentally friendly cars.
California's law was supposed to take effect Jan. 1 but first needed approval from the federal government. That permission was tucked into a $286 billion transportation bill Congress passed last week, meaning there is just one last strand of red tape keeping hybrids out of the high-occupancy vehicle lanes: State air regulators need to clarify which vehicles meet the mileage and emissions standards.
The policy's supporters hope hybrids will be allowed in the car pool lanes by year's end.
"Knowing that you're able to drive in that car pool lane would be huge, and I think it would attract others to say, `Hey, I should have a car like this as well,'" said Andrew Werts, a 31-year-old marketing director from Redondo Beach who recently sold his SUV and bought a Toyota Prius.
Only two other models Honda's hybrid Civic and Insight meet the eligibility standards of at least 45 miles per gallon and almost no smog-causing emissions, according to an aide to the author of California's bill, Assemblywoman Fran Pavley, a Democrat.
California will become the second state to allow hybrids with just one person in the car to use car pool lanes. Virginia enacted the change in 2000, and Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia and Minnesota are considering it.
