HOV Lanes Gaining Attention

As a Charleston area commuter, I’m all too aware that commuters are facing crippling fuel prices and increased drive times due to traffic congestion. It’s my hope that commuters throughout the state will reconsider the money saving and environmental benefits that sharing a ride to work with members of their community can offer.

I was delighted to read the editorial entitled “New interest in HOV lanes”, describing the need for “comparatively low-cost solutions to traffic congestion” in Charleston’s Saturday Post and Courier newspaper. An integral component of SC’s high-occupancy vehicle lane (HOV) strategy could involve CarolinaCommuter.com to make it easier for commuters to organize car pools that take advantage of the less congested lanes.

The number of motor vehicles traveling in and out of the Charleston metro area on a daily basis on I-26 is staggering – 140,000 vehicles per day, according to the editorial. If each one of those vehicles, on average, spends $5 per day on fuel, that’s equal to $700,000 per DAY!

I suppose it’s the thrifty sailor in me coming out when I express my opinion that our Charleston area commuters could be spending their $700,000 per day on more interesting things. Saturday’s editorial reinforces my belief that big results can emerge from greater emphasis on the conservation side of energy policy. It’s great to see the HOV lane strategy gaining more attention!