QUESTION: Why did the state decide to allow only two or more people in a car to use the ZipperLane? When the ZipperLane required three or more, the buses would get us to town from Ewa and Kapolei in a reasonable amount of time. It is now taking 1 1/2 hours on average to get to work in the morning! I could get to work faster driving my car in the regular lanes now.
Answer: When it announced plans last year to allow as few as two occupants in a vehicle to use the ZipperLane, the Department of Transportation said it was because not enough people were using it.
Immediately after the requirement was relaxed in August, we received a complaint that the ZipperLane had become "a clogged nightmare."
At that time, the DOT said it wanted time to assess how the laxer requirement was working.
This week it said it is continuing to monitor the H-1 freeway’s inbound lanes during the morning rush hour and has no immediate plans to reverse its decision.
"Our goal is to maximize use of all lanes during peak periods," said spokeswoman Caroline Sluyter. "As mentioned previously, the decision to lower the required number of occupants from three to two was made with a great deal of thought as to how we could maximize all of the available freeway lanes to their best potential."
She acknowledged the current requirement has led to more car pool vehicles using the ZipperLane, but "it also means the lane is being used more during peak travel times, freeing up space across all lanes of traffic."
QUESTION: Do you know of anyone offering free shredding of personal documents and papers? If so, where and when?
Answer: The Better Business Bureau of Hawaii, in partnership with local businesses, has offered free shredding every October for the past few years. This year’s event is scheduled for Oct. 19. Details will be released closer to the date.
Free shredding of documents also is offered four or five times a year at "Going Green" recycling events held once or twice a month in various communities.
The first and only event scheduled so far this year offering shredding will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, April 20 at Kailua High School.
The first box of documents will be shredded for free; the second and third boxes will cost $10 each, said organizer Rene Mansho.
"It’s a good fundraiser for the school for much-needed funds," she said.
No shredding is offered at Saturday’s "Going Green" event at Waianae High School from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., but other items brought for recycling will benefit the school.
Among items that will be accepted are plastic bottle caps and bags, scrap metal, bikes, appliances, propane tanks, fire extinguishers (three maximum), computers, one TV per car, used cooking oil, cellphones, batteries, plastic playground equipment, corrugated cardboard, usable clothing and household items, used eyeglasses and hearing aids, incandescent light bulbs and white socks for Afghanistan.
Tires, paint, microwave ovens, motor oil and other hazardous fluids will not be accepted.
For details on what can be recycled, check the Going Green calendar on the city’s website, opala.org. Click on "calendar & events." Or contact Mansho at renemansho@hawaii.rr.com or at 291-6151.
MAHALO
To the police officer pulling over cars with just one person in the eastbound HOV lane at the H1/H2 merge at 7 a.m. Thursday. After writing a ticket, he pulled over other violators, even the ones who got out of the HOV lane when they saw him. I always see one-person vehicles using that lane during the morning rush hour. I’d like to give you a great big hug for citing those who think they can get away with it! — Not a Line Cutter
Write to "Kokua Line" at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
