The diamond lanes were supposed to reduce traffic, and thereby reduce gas consumption and pollution. They have done neither. People don't use them, because most people cannot routinely coordinate schedules that way. Nor do they want to. So they end up sitting in traffic jammed up next to empty diamond lanes, taking forever to get to work, and spewing pollution, since idling, slow moving stop and go traffic causes more pollution than moving at freeway speeds.
Hybrids do both: reduce fuel consumption and put out less pollution. That is the rationale for them being in the diamond lane. But the truth is...the diamond lanes are not necessary to achieve that goal. The technology is.
Open the diamond lanes, press automobile technology to reduce fuel consumption, and let the market take over.
The diamond lanes are one more failed liberal "program" which did not work. But the liberal bureaucrats and ideologues who dreamed it up will never admit to that, because to admit it would show them for the fools they are.
Just how do you "press automobile technology" without interfering with a free market? It should be consumer, not government, pressure that increases demand for hybrid powerplants.
A dismal failure has never stopped idiot bureaucrats from proposing more of the same.
I have worked with those morons up close and personal.
They'll just lie, cheat, steal, distort to keep throwing money at the problem.
What "counts" is good intentions, not results.