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Honda Civic GX & HOV Lane Access

71 messages,  Last post on Sep 11, 2009 at 6:38 PM

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#38 of 71 Re: CA access stickers [kate_g] by epnfrn Aug 19, 2007 (6:44 pm)
Replying to: kate_g (Aug 19, 2007 5:49 pm) you can't go through an HOV lane outside of carpool hours period. aka. the lanes that are carpool lanes during carpool hours are lit that way, and outside of hours the light is off, and often a cone is in front of the lane. for the bay bridge, they even close down the fly-over lane entirely (except for buses). if the light is off (and there is no cone) do NOT go through them.   however, now that they are changing things around, it may be that the carpool lane becomes another Fastrak lane outside of carpool hours. if you blow through that, you will absolutely receive a ticket if not a Fastrak member. if you are a Fastrak member, either your transponder will get picked up, or your plates will be photographed and your account charged that way.   conversely, if you go through a Fastrak lane during carpool hours, you will pay $4 regardless if you are a SUV, Civic GX, or legitimate carpool. they are separate systems, Fastrak controlled and patrolled by Fastrak, and Carpool and Cash lanes via California Highway Patrol and Caltrans. i discussed this directly with those agencies while investigating what rights we smart GX'ers actually have   now if you are going through a carpool lane (during hours, which should be the only time a carpool lane is actually even available to you) with a Fastrak transponder, it will beep as you go through. supposudely it will not charge you, but i believe i and others have been charged. and if you have the long-range model that they give to Hybrids, you will get charged definately. so put it in the mylar bag, lock it in lead, and stick it under your seat   let me know if this didn't answer your question! i've been doing the Carquinez and Bay Bridges every day for the last 12+ months w/out a problem. however, i do have a Fastrak acct, and will use the Fastrak lanes once those Carpool lane lights go out.   epi (brian)
#39 of 71 car pool lane on the bridge? by needhilcar Oct 08, 2007 (1:15 pm)
Will they ticket you if you use the carpool lane on the bridge. I live in Oakland (California) and I work in Benicia. It is clear that CA DMV has free bridge tolls listed. The golden gate bridge has specific instructions to "bag the tag" or stop and ask the toll taker to void the charge on a fastrak.   I have read and reread the bridge facilities information and the metropolitan traspo commission info and the dmv and countless other AB bills. It is very hard to find clear and consistent language granting free toll to CNG vehicles. Help! Replies to this message: ikir (Oct 09, 2007 8:32 pm) epnfrn (Oct 10, 2007 10:41 am)
#40 of 71 Re: car pool lane on the bridge? [needhilcar] by ikir Oct 09, 2007 (8:32 pm)
Replying to: needhilcar (Oct 08, 2007 1:15 pm) I received my clean air stickers a few weeks ago and I have been using the carpool lane on the Bay Bridge and I'm not paying toll. Replies to this message: epnfrn (Oct 10, 2007 10:41 am)
#41 of 71 Re: car pool lane on the bridge? [ikir] by epnfrn Oct 10, 2007 (10:41 am)
Replying to: ikir (Oct 09, 2007 8:32 pm) i'm a little confused by what the question is ... so forgive me if i repeat things you already know.   if you have the clean air stickers (and only if!) the rule is that you may go through the carpool lanes on bay area bridges during carpool hours only.   if you do not have these stickers, you can try going through at your own risk. there is no rule that allows you passage w/out them. however, it may be that you do it 1000 times and never receive a ticket. at your own risk! i personally would not do it w/out stickers on my car.   if you go through a Fastrak lane, you will be charged. period. even if you are a carpool, even if the transponder is in the bag. Fastrak operates Fastrak lanes, CHP and Caltrans operate carpool lanes.   there is very limited printed information defining this, but i have been told verbally by Fastrak, the GX expert at Honda in Sacramento, and read it in on PG&E's website where they discuss benefits of CNG. in fact, i've printed that page and put it in my glove box. (you'll have to search for it, i don't know the link)   i will say that i've been using the carpool lanes for 1.5 years now (2 bridges every day) and have never had a problem.   i do also have a Fastrak transponder in this car for those times that i cross a bridge outside of carpool hours. it stays in it's mylar bag so that it never signals when i cross through the carpool lane during carpool hours. of course i pull it out when using Fastrak outside of carpool hours.   bridges that i cross (bay bridge, carquinez) no longer even have carpool lanes outside of carpool hours. they get converted electronically to Fastrak lanes ... so there is no confusion. the bay bridge is extra special b/c it has the flyover carpool lane. outside of carpool hours, that big sign will be lit up that says "BUSES ONLY" ... i doubt you will be able to convince a cop that you are a bus, so wouldn't recommend trying. during carpool hours, you can of course use the flyover just like any other carpool lane (see rules above   let me know if there are any other questions, and i'll happily give them a shot.   epi (brian)
#42 of 71 CA HOV lane sticker by vicjon Nov 09, 2007 (4:11 pm)
I just mail in my application for HOV lane sticker week age. How long does it take to receive the sticker from DMV?   Victor Replies to this message: ohmygas (Nov 11, 2007 8:50 pm)
#43 of 71 Re: CA HOV lane sticker [vicjon] by ohmygas Nov 11, 2007 (8:50 pm)
Replying to: vicjon (Nov 09, 2007 4:11 pm) I just called Friday and the lady told me it takes about 4 weeks. when you check has been cleared it is a sign that they got your paperwork. In my case I applied with a new car purchase, which was 6 weeks ago. I just got my plates but no HOV stickers. Which may take another 2 weeks, since it would be 4 weeks AFTER issue of the plates (was no 10/30). Since you got your plates already it should not take more then 4 weeks.
#45 of 71 Can you still get carpool Stickers for the 08 Civic GX? How is the Fuel ? by jvenglass Apr 04, 2008 (1:49 pm)
I was thinking of getting one for my wife we live is So.Cal. if we were to buy a new one now would she be able to get the HOV stickers? I saw one the other day that had Silver stickers? Are those the say as the Yellow ones?   What is the fuel cost on these? She is driving about 100 each day round trip.   Will the car last as long as a Gas model? Will the upkeep costs be greater?
#46 of 71 Good questions. by dejapooh Apr 04, 2008 (2:10 pm)
The silver HOV stickers are still available for the Natural Gas Vehicles. There is no limit on them (the limit is what cut off the stickers on the Hybrids). It is not the same, it is better. It allows free parking at meters in several southern California cities (LA, Santa Monica, and more). You are restricted to the time allowed to the meter (if it is a 2 hour meter, you get 2 hours of free parking, then you have to move the car). The Yellow stickers are only good until the end of 2008 or something, the silver ones are good until 2014 i believe (someone back me up on these).   If she is driving 100 miles each way, make sure she has a home filling unit or a filling station near your home or office (Ideally you should be near on at both locations).   I am paying $2.56 near my house, and $2.20 near my wife's work. Prices vary widely. Burbank is one of the cheapest stations, LAX is one of the most expensive. I think the most expensive right now is about $2.75 or $2.80.   Rumor is that because the fuel is so much cleaner than Gasoline, there will be fewer deposits and less wear. Taxis and police cars seem to indicate that a life expectancy of about 400,000 mile to 500,000 miles if you take good care of it.   The Fuel Filters cost a few hundred dollars to replace every 30,000 miles. The price has been dropping lately as it becomes wider knowledge that you don't need to replace the entire filter, just the insert. Other than that, it is about the same.   If you buy used, do not buy a used GX between 2001 and 2006. The transmission is not very reliable. Replies to this message: epnfrn (Apr 04, 2008 2:23 pm) jvenglass (Apr 04, 2008 2:39 pm) epnfrn (Apr 04, 2008 3:19 pm)
#47 of 71 Re: Good questions. [dejapooh] by epnfrn Apr 04, 2008 (2:23 pm)
Replying to: dejapooh (Apr 04, 2008 2:10 pm) transmission issues on 2001 to 2005 ... 2006 is the newest iteration and doesn't have a CVT. i'm sure dejapooh meant this, but just wanted to clarify for you.   everything else he said is spot on. i'll add that the silver stickers are nicer up here in the Bay Area, as they get you free bridge crossings during commute hours. i cross two bridges on my commute for a savings of $8 / day!   for current prices (which are as high as i've ever seen them) check out www.cngprices.com for a google map of CNG stations. i'm regularly paying 2.26 / GGE and get 40mpg.   epi

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