Hazards, Advantages of Costa Mesa Freeway Car-Pool Lane

I am a regular commuter on the Costa Mesa (55) Freeway, having the good fortune to commute northward from Irvine to Anaheim in the morning and southward back to Irvine in the evenings, thus avoiding the worst of the congestion.

I was also a car-pooler before the car-pool lanes were constructed. I feel very vindicated, and not a little self-righteous, every time I am able to use the lane. I feel my effort towards reduction of pollution and congestion (not to mention my immediate out-of-pocket expense) is given official recognition by the payoff in saved commute time.

I watch the lane very jealously on those occasions when I am forced to join the slow-moving herd of the stubbornly independent solo drivers.

In contrast to Edward Beitz’ observations (Letters, Jan. 12), it is my experience that only one car in 10 using the reserved lane does not have at least two people aboard. And I have observed no worse driving habits among that lane’s users than among the general circus of Southern California freeway drivers.

Further, I believe the lane should remain reserved for car-poolers as an incentive to increase car-pooling. Every car in that lane takes at least two out of the regular lanes, thus helping both the pooler and the solo driver.

I look at it this way: Yes, it’s a nuisance to pick up a rider, and coordinating schedules does take a little more time. But it’s also a nuisance to get stuck in stop-and-roll traffic. (The lane saves us so much time that my rider and I go out of our way to get together.)

Want a simple way to cut air pollution, depletion of non-renewable energy sources, and your own gasoline bill by 50%? Take along one rider. If more of us car-pooled, we wouldn’t need to raise taxes to pay for more freeways.

LARKETTE LEIN

Irvine