Q: I read your column about carpool lane abuse and wondered if you could give those of us who used to be regular casual carpoolers a plug. As COVID-19 restrictions are being lifted, and vaccination and boosting rates are up, hopefully more people will feel safe offering or accepting rides at designated sites and times.
I found casual carpooling to be a quicker, more economical way to get to work in San Francisco and had some interesting conversations en route.
Larry Forsberg, Oakland
A: Casual carpooling is one of the ways to get actual carpoolers in carpool lanes. Go to sfcasualcarpool.com for more information, including pick up sites around the East Bay.
Q: My husband and I used the HOV/express lane near Livermore. Our FasTrak was dinged and we got a $1.25 bill on our account.
We thought we qualified as a carpool, so should not have been charged. A FasTrak representative said it was our problem because we had not switched our tag to “2” to indicate two passengers before we entered the HOV lane.
We don’t have a switch on our FasTrak tag! The rep said we need to update it, which costs $20 for each tag. We have to pay the $1.25 fee and a $20 update charge?
How were we supposed to know that?
Barbara Williams, Berkeley
A: You must have missed the many warnings about how to use the express lanes. You need to get a FasTrak flex tag to indicate how many people are in your car before you enter the lane.
Q: I go over Highway 17 and was recently hit by a speeder there. Thanks to safety improvements to the road and in modern cars, no one was seriously hurt, even though both cars were totaled.
If not for the median barrier, shoulder barrier, seatbelts, ABS, crumple zones, airbags, etc., all of us could have been killed. I’d be grateful for lower speeds, but drivers won’t change their habits anytime soon, no matter what.
Susan McLean
A: It’s so good you survived a very dangerous accident. I’m afraid you are right about most drivers’ resistance to changing their habits.
Q: There are three lanes that end at the light from southbound Interstate 880 at McCarthy Ranch Road. Two are for turning left into Milpitas.
The right lane has several red lights, one with a red/green arrow. Only recently has there been a problem turning right after stopping. There are no “No Turn on Red” signs. Is it illegal to turn right on the red arrow, when there are no signs prohibiting a turn?
Stacie Thomas, Fremont
A: Yes, it is illegal. You cannot turn right on a red arrow.
Look for Gary Richards at Facebook.com/mr.roadshow, or contact him at mrroadshow@bayareanewsgroup.com.
