10-07-2019, 02:10 AM
Due to my freeway commute, I split lanes for about 8-9 of my 12 mile door-to-door ride in the morning. I'm on the 55 Freeway, which splits Orange County north-south, riding in the carpool lane, which is still pretty backed up during rush hour. In the interest of promoting positive rider-driver relations, when safe, my left hand is always at the ready to give a quick wave to any car that noticeably moves to the left as I approach to give me more room.
I've found that as I tend to pass many of the same cars and trucks that are on the same commute, more people have started to move over. Not sure, but maybe drivers watching their mirrors might see the car behind them move left, and see that quick wave as I pass. Maybe they want to get that wave too, so they move. I've never had a car knowingly crowd or block me.
In any case, over the past few weeks, I've paid closer attention to what kinds of cars tend to move most frequently for me, and how far to the left they move. The cars that are the most attentive and most accommodating in descending order are:
Tesla
Nissan Leaf
BMW I3
Toyota Mirai
Honda Clarity
Contractor pickup/flatbed/van
Plug-in Hybrids, regardless of brand
I can see contractor trucks moving over - these are working guys, maybe they're riders as well.
But the rest of the list represents single drivers in the car pool lane who are there by virtue of the car they are driving. In California, electric, hydrogen and plug-in hybrids can use the car pool without a passenger, just as a motorcycle can. As I made the list, I wondered if they share some sort of camaraderie with me as someone who is enjoying the car pool lane based on vehicle choice.
Just an interesting observation.
I've found that as I tend to pass many of the same cars and trucks that are on the same commute, more people have started to move over. Not sure, but maybe drivers watching their mirrors might see the car behind them move left, and see that quick wave as I pass. Maybe they want to get that wave too, so they move. I've never had a car knowingly crowd or block me.
In any case, over the past few weeks, I've paid closer attention to what kinds of cars tend to move most frequently for me, and how far to the left they move. The cars that are the most attentive and most accommodating in descending order are:
Tesla
Nissan Leaf
BMW I3
Toyota Mirai
Honda Clarity
Contractor pickup/flatbed/van
Plug-in Hybrids, regardless of brand
I can see contractor trucks moving over - these are working guys, maybe they're riders as well.
But the rest of the list represents single drivers in the car pool lane who are there by virtue of the car they are driving. In California, electric, hydrogen and plug-in hybrids can use the car pool without a passenger, just as a motorcycle can. As I made the list, I wondered if they share some sort of camaraderie with me as someone who is enjoying the car pool lane based on vehicle choice.
Just an interesting observation.