It’s nice not to be No. 1 occasionally

It took a catastrophe elsewhere to dislodge Hawaii as having the highest-priced gasoline in the nation.

Specifically, a February explosion at an ExxonMobil refinery in Southern California reduced supplies throughout that state, spiking California fuel prices to an average $3.73 per gallon, 50 cents higher than Hawaii’s $3.23 average. Normally, based on the last five years, Hawaii gas prices averaged 33 cents higher than California’s.

So it’s good to not be No. 1 in this case, even if it’s likely temporary. Further, it’s simply a relief to have gas prices here hovering well below the $4 level, where it was about a year ago.

ZipMobile needs tender loving care

Things happen in threes, they often say. Let it not be so with the ZipMobile.

When the infamous concrete-barrier mover broke down in March, "Carmageddon" was the result. Too many cars are westbound in the afternoon rush, and when lanes are shut off … well, we recall the disastrous outcome.

This time, after Wednesday’s engine fire, the state was able to tow the hobbled machine while it zipped the lane back up. But word of the problem spread fast, so the freeway got jammed anyway, though it was nowhere near March’s gridlock.

Other cities around the world use the ZipMobile under various names (generic term: barrier transfer machine). California has them in San Diego and San Francisco, and just rolled one out on the I-15. So far, so good, over there. Just check the engines, and keep a mechanic close by.