Hybrid Only Parking abused

Hybrid only Parking.    Yeah, I use to be impressed when stores and local business cared about things I cared about.   In this case, hybrids had preferential parking over non-hybrids @ my local Fresh and Easy. (Don’t worry, Fresh and Easy, I still < 3 you guys) 

Obviously, people don’t care anymore.   Unless this is a special hybrid 4 runner I don’t know about, we just have a guy trying to get his work out on @ 24 next door, saw the spot, and didn’t think twice about it.

So, who really cares about who drives a hybrid anymore?  Now theres fast hybrids (The 1/2 baked, 70k + GS450H), Hybrid SUVs, yada yada, do drivers really need this type of attention anymore?

In Downtown Los Angeles, I believe its 4 bucks a HOUR now for the meters.   Seriously LA, seriously.   

From the California DMV  

 

March 13, 2009

Los Angeles —The City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) will begin citing alternative fuel vehicles parked at expired parking meters starting March 1, 2009. On February 10th, the City Council voted to end a free metered parking program for alternative fuel vehicles begun in 2002.

Under that program, the City allowed vehicles that displayed a California Clean Air Vehicle Decal from the California DMV, as well as four hybrid vehicles: Honda Insight, Honda Civic Hybrid, Toyota Prius and Ford Escape Hybrid, to park free at City operated on and off-street parking meters, while observing any posted parking time limit restrictions and other restrictions such as tow-away and street cleaning orders.

For the remainder of the month of February, Traffic Officers will provide ‘warning notices’ to any of these vehicles parked at City meters to remind vehicle operators of this change. Effective March 1, alternative fuel vehicles parked at an expired meter will be cited for Failure to Pay for a Parking Meter Space. The fine for this parking violation is $48

 

GS Motors

Gas2Org.com reports Chinese Electric Cars Coming To Costco, Wal-Mart 

 

“Yes, the big-box discount store Costco could be selling the Chinese-designed and Mexican-built vehicles says one auto exec. The CEO of GS Motors — Kathleen Ligocki — told the Hybrid Cars website that she thinks the US will follow in Mexico’s footsteps. GS Motors sold 4,000 China-made vehicles in Mexico last year at…Costco and Wal-Mart.”

 

Fun, electric, and cheap?   Would’t this push electric cars to the people who need them most in this economy?    Can you imagine the possibilities with our own spec racing league?    

I can imagine a lot of us buying one of these for a weekend in SF and then returning it on the following Monday.  ”Um, I thought I could use gas in it, but its only electric man, wtf!”  

(Que promo for Electric Car battle reality show on Discovery!)