Double white lines on I-680 will be removed someday
QWe were in the far-right lane heading south on Interstate 680 in Fremont by the construction area on the Sunol Grade, when a truck came over the double white lines to exit and his truck kicked up all kinds of rocks and broke our brand-new car’s windshield.
The person driving the truck says he has every right to go over those lines to exit any time. He also stated he does it all the time and too bad our window broke. He refused to give any information and the CHP refused to come out to talk to us.
Is there anything we can do so we aren’t out of pocket for the repair of the windshield, and how about him and crossing those lines, is that legal? We have his license plate number. — Linda Spaulding, San Jose
AThe trucker is wrong — for now. It is illegal to cross double white lines to enter an express lane but in a few years, the double lines will be removed and replaced by a single dash line where one can can enter and exit anytime it is safe to do so. For now, turn this over to your insurance company.
QDid any of the previous bridge toll hikes help East Bay road woes? Fool me once ... — Mike Smith
AOh, my yes. The 1988 and 2004 toll increases helped to upgrade the Richmond Parkway, widen the San Mateo Bridge, build the new Alfred Zampa Memorial Bridge across the Carquinez Strait, widen Bayfront Expressway in San Mateo County, rebuild the Interstate 880-Highway 92 interchange in Hayward and extend BART to Warm Springs and Orinda.
QThe Orinda BART station needs more parking spaces for motorcycles. Twenty tickets were issued one day to cycles parked in an area that did not disturb traffic flow but were outside the painted lines. My husband rides a scooter to BART every day and during nice days the spaces are always insufficient. He has parked outside the lines for years without incident or complaint. The overflow had gotten worse with more choosing to act environmentally. Now 20 or 30 riders take up the same space that 4 or 5 drivers have. — Phyllis Annee Wecker
AYes, there is a chance that the motorcycle parking could be expanded. BART is looking at options to increase motorcycle parking at Orinda Station.
QCan you please reprint that website for DMV appointments? — Donna Hastings, Concord
AGo to Realid.dmv. ca.gov, which has a fact sheet and a list of documents you will need. Then make a appointment at www.dmv.ca.gov or call 800-777-0133. You can do so 90 days before you need it.
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