[Jeff Higgins]

I'm old enough to remember when these were called "carpool lanes". That was the original intent, to encourage commuters to carpool to save gas and free up the freeways. I would really like to see a return to that intent, with enforcement to keep the rest of the riff raff out.

It didn't take long for folks to figure out that grabbing one of their toddlers to ride along qualified them to drive in the carpool lane. I'm sorry, but that is not taking a licensed commuter off the road who would otherwise be driving their own vehicle. Add to that the box van, work van, work truck, or whatever, crammed with coworkers on their way to a job - they have no more right to the carpool lane than the mom with her infant child.

Add to that the motorhome, the camper, the fifth wheel, the pickup towing a boat - they are obviously not commuting, not taking another licensed driver off of the road, and certainly not saving gas. They are recreating. They have no right to the carpool lane.

And, yes, speed in the carpool lane is important. If one desires to drive in that lane, one has an obligation to others with whom he is sharing that lane. If the pace of traffic in the other lanes suits you, please stay there. If you are unwilling or unable to keep up with everyone else in the carpool lane (who are ostensibly on their way to or from work), then stay the hell out of it. Courtesy is key.

There should be nothing larger than a multi passenger van (full of van poolers) allowed in the carpool lane. Certainly no RVs of any size or description, nor anyone towing a trailer of any kind. Carpool lanes need to return to the original purpose of easing rush hour congestion and saving gas. And, in that light, they need to be open to all traffic during non-peak hours. No reason to be incentivizing commuters at noon.