Get ready: Red carpool lane stickers are hitting the roads
QPeople who have received their HOV stickers in 2017 and
2018 will be allowed to apply for new stickers in 2019. After applying for them, do you know whether they can still drive in the HOV lane with the old green or white stickers? It usually takes around 3 to 5 weeks to get HOV stickers from DMV. — Kaladhar Voruganti
ADon’t know yet as the Department of Motor Vehicles is still pondering this issue. But there is more news on the sticker front. The green and white stickers are being discontinued and this month the DMV began issuing red stickers. Then next year the DMV will decide on a new permanent color. Vehicles issued a green or white decal in 2017 or 2018 will be eligible to reapply for a new decal next year, giving them access to carpool lanes until Jan. 1, 2022.
QGary, please consider mentioning that Mount Umunhum visitors should be very careful where they park. Our hiking club hiked this hill recently and 11 made it to the top, but many came down to find expensive parking tickets of $50. So we’ve posted this warning on our website:
“Note to future hikers. Parking at the Bald Mountain lot is limited (only 20 spaces) and they’re quite serious about ‘ No Parking Anywhere Along Mt. Umunhum Road’ (even in what appear to be valid parking pullouts). So parking at Hick’s Road and carpooling up is definitely worth considering. But it’s still a great hike and we’re sure to do it again.” — Hersh Brown, SIR #54’s Hiking Club
AThe former 1950sera Air Force radar station in the hills south of San Jose that opened last September has seen booming numbers of visitors — on pace to attract 150,000 visitors a year, far greater than the 20,000 to 40,000 that had been expected.
QCan you find out if Caltrans would share the type of vines planted along freeway sound walls? These would be perfect for a fence project. — Linda Vinopal, Fremont
AThe vines are Parthenocissus tricuspidata or Boston ivy. It’s considered an excellent vine for clinging to stonework.
QYou have in the past printed comments from readers about distasteful commercials involving bad driving. Well, here’s one I applaud. It’s with retired British race car driver Jackie Stewart, who is offered a bottle of Heineken beer as he leaves a building. He smiles and says no: “I am still driving.” — Gina Hastings, Sunnyvale
AI agree with you: a clever anti- drinking message for drivers. It sure beats the awful “No Cuffs” commercial about drivers fighting drunkdriving tickets.