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Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Lee (Post 4803721)

Virginia tried this by exempting hyrbids from the carpool lane restrictions a few years ago. But then so many people bought hybrids, that the carpool lanes got clogged up and then the state reneged on the deal. Now the hybrids that got registered before the state reneged have a special license plate. But you can't tell the difference between a Honda Civic hybrid and a regular one. And the cops who patrol the HOV lanes can't see the rear plate code when cars are travelling at hwy. speed. It's a huge clusterf&ck designed to buy votes and then came to define the law of unintended consequences. Now the HOV lanes are nothing but a cash cow for the cops who write tix to the cheaters and they're just about as full as the regular lanes.

Politics. The great un-equalizer.

I'm against car pool lanes in general, and would be more in favor of a European style of driving - left lane is for passing, everything else moves to the right lane.

Now, if that were enforced, traffic might be a bit better; though really, it's not likely.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dd74 (Post 4803707)

So, in a large sense, you're no better than a lefty in a Smart car. The "smug" in your writing confirms just that.

Somehow I doubt Rick has a license plate that says "SMART-T" or "IQ3XMPG" or "SMRTRNU". If he is smug (not saying he is--that's your projection) then I'm reasonably certain he's not broadcasting it (if he was, some jackass in a Prius would probably try to t-bone him on his bike).

A lot of the city-dwellers of the US and Europe tend to forget that not every spot in the world is a cesspool vertical city like the one they live in. Sure, these itty-bitty econoboxes are probably great for inner city commuting. So is public transportation. But in the rest of the USA (which accounts for 99.19257% of the surface area) these things are a false economy--which makes them purely a "statement".

Concur with both posts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Lee (Post 4803730)

I've never seen lane splitting anywhere but CA and I only do it there when stuck in stopped traffic, not at speed. I'm terrified of that and not a good enough rider to do it. Since I never even thought to buy a vehicle out of smugness or because it was doing the world a favor, no I never considered myself better than anyone else. It just so happens that my transp. method of choice is faster, cleaner, cheaper and easier to park than the enviro-cars. Pure coincidence.

My take on lane splitting is "yes," I think it's very efficient. But where the rider is at fault is 1) when he/she does it at like 50 mph; 2) and does not expect the idiots on the cell phones, doing their makeup, or stirring sugar into their lattes -- all while driving -- to change lanes.

Of course, uncorked Harleys are a different subject altogether. Whatever efficiency is to be had with an H-D flies out the window when it is as audibly obnoxious as some have decided to make theirs.

The LAPD has Harleys now. They look very cool - like custom paint jobs - and a nice low rumble. Why the **** can't other Harley riders can't do with the same mufflers as the cops is beyond me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueSkyJaunte (Post 4803751)

Right. But fortunately, those a-holes are far and few between. The Smart drivers I've seen are usually downtown commuters and college students. I would chance to say the last thing on their mind is a political statement. Maybe it's different on a Hollywood Studio lot, where people strive to fit in.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueSkyJaunte (Post 4803751)

A lot of the city-dwellers of the US and Europe tend to forget that not every spot in the world is a cesspool vertical city like the one they live in. Sure, these itty-bitty econoboxes are probably great for inner city commuting. So is public transportation. But in the rest of the USA (which accounts for 99.19257% of the surface area) these things are a false economy--which makes them purely a "statement".

In L.A. public transportation is almost prohibitively expensive and vastly limited. I work with a girl who spends over $200 a month to commute in via train. That is either a car note, or a good portion of one. For me to go to work via the subway would take twice as long as driving in r/hr. traffic.

lane splitting in most countries if verboten if traffic moves faster then x km/h
Eg, if it ain't a T-jam, you ain't lane splitting

splitting at 40mph is asking for trouble

Nyete on that moto bicycle...

If it were about 2500 it could fly...well then everybody would want one then...if it could fly that is.

Cadillac has engines that shut down cylinders at stoplights.

Now add ultra-lightweight bodies, hydraulic/electric hybrid, and rotary valves that stay open with individual variable-compression cylinders.

The consumer market is a long way off from "efficiency".
70mpg? Ok, that's good, but it's possible to squeeze 2,500mpg out of a vehicle:
http://www.shell.com/home/content/fuels_ga/diesel_fe_pkg/history/dfe_development.html
"the current record set in 2004, drove 3,410km on just one litre of fuel."