Neighborhood resident speaks up about Sunnyvale signs

Q The big problem with no right turns on Mathilda in Sunnyvale (they are at the Highway 101 northbound on-ramp and the intersection of the Highway 101 south exit and Ahwanee) is that only about 50 percent of drivers obey them. For those of us who live in the adjoining neighborhood and know about the restriction, it is common to get honked at or unsafely passed by people who don't know or don't care about the restriction. As a 20-plus-year resident of the nearby neighborhood, this part of the Mathilda upgrade has not been a good one.

— Chris Antonio

A You raise very valid points.

Q Motorists legally using express lanes should not feel pressured by other motorists for obeying the law. The real issue is the need for better enforcement so that motorists who obey the law can feel comfortable using the services they have paid for.

I would also be interested to know exactly how money collected for tolls, including bridge tolls, is actually being utilized. It is past time for California residents to have a full detailed public accounting of how toll monies are actually being spent.

— Jim Weil

A Tolls cover operating and maintenance costs of the lanes they cover. Among those costs are toll equipment maintenance and replacement, and toll collection operations. If toll revenue exceeds the costs, it will be spent on transportation improvements in the corridor.

Q As a motorcycle rider, I am lucky to be able to use the express lane. It is very discouraging how many people seem to think that because they can drive in the express lane, they can only drive in that lane. Many times cars will sit in the express lane while they're passed by cars in lane No. 2. I think your recent reply about that should have been slightly stronger, something like this:

You certainly should use the express lane if you are allowed, but only if you are passing other cars. If not, like everyone else, move right, unless passing. — Alan Arndt, San Jose

A Slower traffic should always move to the right.

Q The question about driving in the express lane when other vehicles are driving over the speed limit raises the question of why the driver is in the lane when non-HOV lanes are moving faster. This driver is committing a Vehicle Code violation. Vehicle Code 21654 requires, regardless of the speed limit, all vehicles at a speed less than normal traffic (the current speed of traffic around you) to move right. That applies to all lanes, HOV and non-HOV. If traffic on your right is passing your car, move right until vehicles on your right are slower than you are. — Tom Bret

A That's today's last word.