Hi Folks,

Long time since I posted.

It appears, unless Gov. Spitzer signs an extension, that the Clean Pass program will end on March 1, 2007.

If anyone has details to the contrary, please post them here immediately.

Currently there is only one way to contact Gov. Spitzer:

The Governor,
Executive Chamber
Albany, New York 12224

However, there should be new ways posted shortly on the New York State website.

Let's keep our HOV privileges!!

Michael on Long Island

Yikes, say it ain't so -- I just took my first solo cruise in the HOV lane during this mornings commute!

Have you all ready written a letter to Elliot Spitzer? What did you say? I suppose you want to focus on hybrids providing a perk drivers of low emissions vehicles while providing an incentive for people to purchase more of them in the future.

The HOV lane should be converted to a regular lane, but so long as it is for cars with two or more people seated in it, it should remain that way. I hope Governor Spitzer does not sign the extension (or better yet, that the extension does not make it to his desk).

It does not make sense to have a lane for vehicles carrying multiple people and then allow people with certain cars to drive in it.

If the HOV in NY were run like it was in California, then it would make sense.
Otherwise I agree, instead of it being an extra lane to let all cars move faster and cause less standing emissions, it just lets 1 lane run efficiently.

However, we do need to encourage both carpooling and also low emissions and high MPG, so it does serve a purpose.

I also like the fact that my wife's commute is 25 minutes instead of 50 going from one end of Nassau County to another.

Michael

Now as far as writing, stress the fuel and emissions savings and the fact that a hybrid is more efficient than many motorcycles which are allowed in the lane or even one SUV carrying 3 people.

The program is a 1 year pilot, so unless it is extended (which it should since it will be cheaper than replacing all the signs and re-training all the police), it will automatically go away.

You can also write your state Assemblyman (or woman) and Senator.

To be fair, he should also mention that a hybrid carrying two people is much more fuel efficient than a SUV carrying two people and more than twice as efficient as a hybrid carrying one person, as the extra person avoids the inefficiency of having another automobile on the road.

How about I just add "P.S. Elliot: Additionaly did I mention that I can divide by two? Yeah! I'm pretty good at it!"