Roadshow: Caught going solo in the car pool lane -- 40 times

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Feb 2, 2009 | by Anonymous

Q: I've been pulled over by the CHP about 40 or so times while driving solo in the car pool lane and have never gotten a ticket.

Carl Tankersley

San Jose

A: What! This is an outrage! Could you be the worst Darth Vader driver we have, someone who blatantly ignores the diamond-lane rules? And why is the CHP letting you off?

Q: The CHP doesn't expect to see a 1995 Dodge Caravan with car pool stickers that runs on CNG -- compressed natural gas. I have the white car pool stickers that allow me into the car pool lane on Highway 87, and on my 17-mile drive I save, on average, 30 minutes each way.

Carl Tankersley

A: Oh.

Q: I'm running out of clever things to say to them when they miss seeing the stickers. I went even further to add big PG&E stickers that say "Clean Air Vehicle powered by Natural Gas" on all sides of the van and that hasn't helped.

Carl Tankersley

A: So describe to me the conversation you have when pulled over.

Q: Cop: Where's your passenger today?

Me: I don't need one.

Cop: During car pool times you do.

Me: Not always. What are other ways I could be exempt?

Cop: You could have the clean air stickers that allow you to drive in the car pool lane solo.

Me: Now if you knew that why did you pull me over?

Cop (steps back and sees all the white car pool stickers): Oh, we aren't looking for older cars.

Carl Tankersley

A: And another time:

Q: Cop: Looks like I got you today for violating the car pool lane.

Me: Sorry, looks like I got you.

Cop: Come again? (Steps back and notices the stickers.)

Me: This is the second time today in 15 minutes I've been stopped.

Cop: Be careful pulling back into traffic.

Q: Can you please enlighten me as to the reasons for having the new metering light on when getting onto Highway 85 from the 87? What can possibly be the purpose, especially considering the 85 only continues four more miles after the meter and traffic is a breeze after Blossom Hill Road? " This metering light needs to go, or at least be retimed to allow multiple cars per green. Cars are now backed up on 87 past Capitol Expressway. This is totally unnecessary.

Brandi Liskey,

Mark Provenzano

and many more

A: Did you read Sunday's Roadshow, where drivers on 85 expressed delight that this meter is now working, as it has greatly eased their commute? Give traffic a few weeks to sort out, then report back.

Q: Here I am at the temple of our road messiah wishing for traffic light synchronization on Almaden Expressway during the morning. All lights on the evening southbound commute from 87 to Almaden Road seem synchronized, but not north in the morning. Why?

Sanjay Jasuja

San Jose

A: The lights are timed, but since the meters went on along Highway 87 a couple of weeks ago, some drivers have shifted over to the expressway to avoid the meter at 85-87. Traffic has increased about 20 percent on Almaden, and this has affected the timing. The county will adjust the signals over the next couple of weeks, and retiming of the expressway will be done later this year.

Q: This is about the Interstate 880 south exit to westbound Winton Avenue in Hayward. The city has erected a barricade to keep exiting cars from veering left to get into the left-turn lane to Southland Mall. Unfortunately, this makes it extremely difficult to see westbound traffic when exiting the freeway. Thank God I have not had an accident. Is there a solution?

Scott O'Donnell

Hayward

A: No. During the holidays, the city blocks off the first driveway carrying traffic exiting at Winton and into the mall, a practice for maybe a decade. This helps avoid the nasty weaving problems resulting from the short merge between the off-ramp and the first left turn into the mall. The city has not received many complaints and I doubt if it would change this. What is needed is a new interchange, but that may be 10 years away at the earliest.

Q: Why is Highway 101 between the Lucas Valley and Central San Rafael exits in Marin County backed up all day long lately? I lived here two years and I don't recall it ever being this bad during noncommute hours.

Judy Randle

Novato

A: This section of 101 has been a chronic problem for years because the highway narrows from four to three lanes at Lincoln Avenue. But a southbound car pool lane opened Sunday, and later this year the northbound car pool lane will open.

Q: I read about disabled folks having trouble finding stations for a fill-up. I have never had any problem when I honk and show the placard. Ever. Now for complete service with a smile, there is the 76 station on Woodside Road in Redwood City near Nimitz Avenue that will also put air in your tires, check fluids, etc.

Tricia Young

Redwood City

A: Now, that's service.

Contact Gary Richards at mrroadshow@mercurynews.com or 408-920- 5335.