Because of my fuel efficient vehicle (read: Hybrid), I’m one of the lucky 200,000 Californian residents that can drive the car pool lane during regulated hours even without any additional passengers in the car. This goes through 2010, and let me say that I’ll be extremely sad the day that I lose my HOV lane access.
As it is, I cut about 40 minutes off my commute on Highway 85 from Los Gatos to Mountain View.. The traffic is often at a stand-still and I’m able to zip by on my merry way.
What makes this benefit even more special is on days like yesterday.. where somewhere between the exit for El Camino and Homestead on 85 I saw a bright yellow Lotus stuck in traffic. I thought to myself.. this guy might be driving a $60,000+ car, but he’s stuck in traffic — and I’m not. He should’ve bought a Prius.