Vallejo, 7:20 am
Light rain and, thankfully, plenty of cars. I join a driver and another passenger in a lovely car I’ve been in before. This is a KIA Amanti, a wide comfy, deliciously warm sedan. Fake but tastefully done wood paneling on the dash. An attractive African American woman is driving, wearing a brilliantly multi-colored blouse with a wrist full of bright beaded bracelets. It’s Friday light on the freeway and we make good time going the speed limit all the way to the bridge. It’s at the toll plaza where I always feel smug about being a casual carpooler. All those cars backed up waiting for fast track or to pay the toll, even today, a light Friday. We whiz right by the 6 lanes of non-moving cars.
As we enter the bridge I ask the driver how she feels about paying a toll come July 1. “I think the riders should pay the driver”, she says without a pause. I agree with her, but add that I think the toll is not a good idea for the carpool program. She and the gentleman in the back seat enthusiastically agree. They feel that many people who regularly drive will stop picking up passengers once the toll is in place. She thinks she will stop driving, maybe start taking BART.
We arrive at the Fremont Street drop off, and wish each other a good day, and ‘Happy Valentine’s’. The Chinese New Year of the Tiger begins on Sunday, April 14, so it’s a double holiday along with Valentine’s Day. A triple holiday this weekend, with Monday being the holiday for Presidents’ Day.
No commuting for 3 days! Gung Hay Fat Choy!
Filed under: Casual Carpooling, commute, casual car pool, Today's Commute, Tolls for car pools | 3 Comments »
Getting There 