Wat All Da Huhu About?
By Braddah Lance
Last week there was an article about a PM Ewa bound zipper lane and of course da hatahz were out.
Wat all da huhu about?
Beats me but I guess if no mo' any hatahz in da world we'd be living in an Utopian world eh?
(Ooooh, you like dat $5 dollah word yeah?) 
Here's what Maeda Timson, chairwoman of the Makakilo/Kapolei/Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board, said,
"she thinks the PM Zipper Lane is a bad idea, as long as the state continues to use three people as the threshold for vehicles in the Zipper Lane.
Much more people would carpool, and the Zipper Lane would be better used, if vehicles with two people were allowed, she said.
"It's unnecessarily causing more traffic," Timson said, adding that she's miffed the department did not take the plan to the neighborhood boards of the affected communities before deciding to proceed. "It's just making congestion worse."
I'll put my face out there and say dat changing da rider occupancy from two to three riders in da Zip Lane was right on. I think people fo'get dat driving is a privilege - not a right. It's your choice to drive and fo' a good numbah of people, choose to break da law as well - specifically da car pool and Zip Lane laws.
Da car pool and Zipper Lane (imho) serves two purposes: to reward people who car pool and to help alleviate traffic.
Alleviate, not eliminate.
She goes on to say dat da Zip Lane would be bettah used if vehicles with two riders were allowed. But wouldn't dat just make it like any other lane? You're not helping traffic (to some degree yes) but you're just "overflowing" da load to anoddah lane.
My scientific proof?
Yesterday, Da Wife and I drove da car into work cause of da rain. It took us an additional 25 minutes to get into work making da total commute time about 47 minutes and counted five illegal vehicles in da car pool lane. Today on da bike using da Zip Lane..... 17 total minutes with three illegal vehicles in da car pool lane.
Wen da Zip Lane allowed two riders before, we rarely took it because da "regular" lanes were just as fast, if not faster, practically ALL da time. So in our "observation", traffic was just "pushed" ovah to anoddah lane.
Da PM Zip Lane going help EVERYONE cause believe it or not, whoevah is in da Zip Lane not going be on da regular lanes! Brah, who cannot figgah dat? Even if get only 500 cars use 'em, dat's 500 cars not going be in da lane next to da single riders. It's about time it's being done and even mo' bettah, going be mostly paid by da federal government.
And no, I'll probably not benefit from da PM Zip Lane as it'll be waaaay past where I live. The only hope for me (and countless others) is dat it'll lighten da lanes a little on da regular lanes.
Da PM car pool lane already overcrowded with legal riders and 'den you throw in da law breakers and now you got a regular lane dat stops and goes with da traffic - you might as well make it a regular lane already!
Everyone says enforcement enforcement enforcement and I totally agree but you know wat? I gotta side with HPD on 'dis one. While I know they no can catch everybody, da places da illegal actions take place, HPD no can pull them ovah and those who break da law know it and use it to their advantage. If HPDwanted to pull someone ovah, going cause mo' traffic - cause no mo' shoulder lane - and people going get mo' huhu. Catch 22. No can win.
So it boils down to morals and balls. You know it's wrong so you going do da right thing or wat? Or "ainokea" and I not going get caught anyways.
Wassap Wit Dat!
Last she goes on saying dat da neighborhood boards weren't involved in da process.... Sistah, dat means da DOT gotta contact practically every board on da aina cause traffic affects ALL of us!
And you tell me, how making one PM Zip Lane going make congestion "worse"?
Ai-goo.
But 'den again, at least da car pool violators get mo' room eh?
DA PIDGIN WORD OF DA DAY! -
(as quoted from Da Kine Dictionary & Pidgin To Da Max… wit a Braddah Lance twist)
BEEF
(pronounced same as spelled)
Haole Translation: Fight or argument
Use: Same as above
Sentence: "Eh, Kimo and Russell goin' beef aftah school!"
Sentence: "Brah, wat's yo' beef wit da Sam's Club photo cashier?"
Wassup Wit Dat!
September 23rd, 2008 at 10:00 am
Brah, I work down Kapolei and see that Ewa traffic all the time going home. I don't know why anyone that lives in Ewa would want a zip lane. They should do a AM and PM zip lane ovah there. Traffic is backed up to the freeway everyday
If they no do nothing, going be the same traffic. At least they stay offering one solution. Lucky I get for drive against the traffic to and from work 
BTW, numeral uno
September 23rd, 2008 at 10:02 am
BL,
Ainokea bout capool lanes la dat. Cuz no mo capool lanes from my house to work and back. Get plenty traffic but no mo capool lanes.
September 23rd, 2008 at 10:06 am
Aigoo is right. Good thing I live in Manoa and have a 5-10 minute drive to UH. But, I do feel for my fellow students who wake up early, face the traffic and have to sleep in their cars or at CC until class. Then, they gotta make sure they can beat traffic or sometimes they stay late until it dies down. Poor tings!
September 23rd, 2008 at 10:19 am
Seeing da new homes in Ewa almost made me consider living there but da traffic, just da traffic I said no. But you would think that with Ewa and Kapolei forecasted to boom from back in da day our engineers would be on the ball and have a plan for da traffic by now no?
Now too late... catch up mode now. But yeah, at least solutions are being brought to da table and hopefully by da time my keiki can drive we have hover crafts available.
In da words of Queenie, that would be "numero"
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Wat, you work Waimanalo or North Shore? Or you one of "those" guys?
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Yeah rub it in.
Sleep at CC.... now those were da days.... oh yeah, and 'den class.
September 23rd, 2008 at 10:29 am
BL: Wat, you work Waimanalo or North Shore? Or you one of “those” guys?
Wat is "those" guys? I work for Uncle Sam but no ask wea or wat I do, even I dunno wat I do.
September 23rd, 2008 at 10:40 am
Aigoo!! My new favorite "swear word".
I always thought a PM zipper lane going Ewa would make sense. I can't see how it would hurt. And as far as the 2 versus 3 passenger thing, it should be a privilege to ride in that zipper lane. When was only 2, the thing move just as slow as the regular freeway. Where's the incentive to carpool there? Might as well drive yourself and get to your destination same time as the zipper lane guys.
@Kelli - You gotta sleep at Hamilton Library. It's so cold in there, you get the deep sleep action going. Just gotta watch out fo da weirdos.
September 23rd, 2008 at 10:57 am
I think a PM zipper lane is long overdue. Not sure why they only had one in the AM... 'cause don't the cars that use it in the morning have to go back the other way in the afternoon? I never quite understood the logic of that. My concern would be traffic going in the opposite direction in the afternoon... sometimes it gets pretty clogged up going townbound, too.
September 23rd, 2008 at 10:59 am
ahh the zipper lane
i wish that i could find 2 more people to carpool with that lived near me & had the same schedule. actuallly, i probably can...maybe not in my building but perhaps nearby (like Sam's Club?! 
) the schedule is the hard part. i often have to stay at least a little later and never can tell because it all depends on how much work needs to be done and by when. the people that i know live near me (or at least in the same city) either start at an ungodly hour or they ride bus.
in my observation, when they changed the zipper occupancy back up to 3, the traffic in the "regular" lanes got a lot heavier. it didn't help alleviate ANY traffic because it put the 2-passenger cars back on the "regular" lanes. BUT, like you said BL, people who make the effort to carpool can use the zipper lane as something like a reward for their efforts. so in that sense the zipper lane does what it was initially meant to do--encourage people to carpool by offering a quicker commute.
the ewa bound zip lane seems like the logical thing to do assuming that all those stuck in morning traffic will also have to fight the pau hana traffic so why not make it both ways eh?
as for da cheaters in da carpool lane...BAH! you know where i stand on that one!
i always wish that there were 30 cops all lined up ready to tag 'em all but den gotta think, where they going pull over? da sirens going be on until after aiea where get shoulder lane?! 
bah humbug.
September 23rd, 2008 at 11:50 am
I know Maeda Timson, she's a real bulldog, but she really loves Kapolei and you'd be wise to stay on her good side. Anyways, they were talking about camera enforcement in today's paper, that's a great idea. When I go out to the west side for meetings, I never go before 9am because the zipper machine hasn't gotten Diamond Head of the H1H2 merge and it's all backed up. Glad I live/work in town, but any creative solution to ease traffic needs to be looked at.
September 23rd, 2008 at 11:52 am
Braddah Lance, no can beef with your blog today, you are right on the money with what you say!!
September 23rd, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Ohhhh, da kine you can tell me but you have to kill me aftah kine yeah?
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Yup yup.
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Cause they only kea about you going to work.
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Yeah, dat's da really hard part. Some people jus' no can.
Anybody still using da "Vanpool"?
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Braddah Scott, I'm on da "right" side. I literally no kea if she one pitbull, if you no make sense, I not going stand next to you advocating nonsense. If she has dat much passion for Kapolei, why be negative towards helping her constituents with a - what seems to be - a logical solution?
And yeah, I'm da same with my friends. I tell 'em if they no make sense.
Yeah, not sure why dat no can... at least to enforce da car/Zip lanes.
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You too funny!..... chicken.
September 23rd, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Yo BL, I meant, in a general sense, to stay on her good side, not you personally. I've had run in's with her and I am speaking from experience, didn't mean you personally.
September 23rd, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Wat BL, you like BEEF (and chicken, fish, vegetables, broccoli, poke ,beea) ?
I really can't blame you all for feeling all huhu about the traffic. To me, an outside island guy, trying to drive on Oahu and trying to figure out the mind of the traffic gods when I look at the highway designs, totally confuses me. I mean your get ON ramp before OFF ramp. People trying to get on the highway same time others trying to get off. Aigoo (I like dis new word)
I can't comment on the zipper lane. I do agree with many comments about how the engineers should have known and planned for the increase in traffic before New City and developments come up and not after. Solutions are needed. Maybe they should ask Da People for suggestions. You guys get some good ones.
September 23rd, 2008 at 12:58 pm
I wit you on dis BL, but if I post what I tink, I going start one war. I jus going stay shut up. I no like anybody get trouble, especially me.
September 23rd, 2008 at 1:05 pm
As usual, no worries Braddah! At least good to hea' she's passionate about her community... can't say dat fo' alot of people.
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So does everybody else!
See, WWD! always introducing (making up) au' kine words yeah?
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So seems da consensus on dis one... judging by da post count.
September 23rd, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Eh, 3 riders not nuff. Make um at least 5.
Wen you catch dem in da lane illegally, no need give dem ticket. Jus round up da filthy, stinky homeless people and throw dem in the back seat fo get dem up to da minimum.
Tink going work?
Eh, I should run fo office. 
September 23rd, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Don't quite get your "driving is privilege and not a right" statement. I mean, once you get a license, insurance, etc. it is your right to drive, right? Anyways, it's besides the point you were trying to make in regards to how 2 or 3 allowed in the zip lane affects congestion and as a means to promote car pooling. During peak times, I'm not sure how much difference it makes with all of the cars we have on road. I would assume our wise leaders are making these decisions based on accurate studies, surveys and input from the community...bad assumption? I like just note what Snow and Scott had already mentioned that the zip lane does adversely affect the opposite direction traffic. Perhaps they should take down the zip lane a little earlier. At around 8:30 - 9:00a.m., the town traffic has eased off quite a bit but you have the stop-and-go congestion of the Ewa bound traffic in the Pearl City/Aiea area cuz da zip lane still up.
September 23rd, 2008 at 1:25 pm
I live in Kaimuki and work in Pearl City so the AM zip lane doesn't work for me and if they begin a PM zip lane that won't work for me either. Even the rail won't work for me. I leave the house at 5:30 in the morning so there's no traffic but I get traffic going home...
September 23rd, 2008 at 1:28 pm
couple years back they was talking about pm zip lanes. an den nuttin. now they like do-um and going cost like million dollars plus for build. how come making concrete zipper costs so much? why neva do-um couple years ago? da 2 v. 3 people ting, jus go find some moa people for ride with. wen gas prices was almost 5.00 dollars, people was saying started for get less cars. wat dea was doing? walking? if no can try tink of how you can help society den how going get betta? too much huhus and beefs going on.
we go make friends with da neighbors and ask um for carpool den everybody can make ono kine foods fo eat on the drive to and from. BL can bring the kimchee, think of the possibilities.
k-den nuff said. mahalos
September 23rd, 2008 at 1:34 pm
oh yeah- carpool enforcement. have the rookie police officiers stay by the exit of the carpool lane. make one lane like they do for DUI checkpoints and pull offenders over. everyday you get some rook officiers at the exit writing tickets. graduate the fines, the more you get caught the more you pay.
September 23rd, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Hey BL,
Wat I no can figa out is...why da hell bikes/motorcycles can go in da zipa lane...2 me that not fair.
According to your thought on da zipa lane:
"Da car pool and Zipper Lane (imho) serves two purposes: to reward people who car pool and to help alleviate traffic."
Now correct me if I stay wrong, I no ride one bike, but I would tink that you keep da same amount of distance between your bike and da car in front of you. Same as if you stay in one car. If you drivning your car and stay following one motorcycle, wouldn't you keep da same amount of distance as if you stay following one car? If this stay true, then a motorcycle takes up just as much space as one mini cooper. Based off of that, da zipa lane not justifiable to da lenght of vehicle but da fact that it's for car pool purposes, so wit that said, then how can you reward someone on a bike or motorcycle using da zipa lane, the motorcycle no can hold 3 or more people. I feel da people on motorcycles should be treated da same as with people with only 2 in one car...no can use da zipa lane. Cause you can not possibly reward those on motorcycles, cause they no can carry 3 people.
Wat u tink?
September 23rd, 2008 at 2:07 pm
No comment.
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Let me try explain in some comparisons.
Can you vote? Not everyone in this country can - that is an American right.
If you have keiki, are they automatically given keys to your car once they turn 14? I'm sure you'd tell them they have to "earn" it.
You can choose to drive or not and it affects no one directly but yourself. You can also get the aforementioned and still not drive too - I know quite a few people who do dat too.
Your right to vote affects the country. Your duty/right to serve on a jury affects society.
If it is everyone's right to drive, why are there different laws for different driving situations? Even different licenses? Car pool, zip lane, motorcycles, passenger vehicles etc. You don't have to get a license(s) or buy a vehicle but it's a privilege to do so because everyone else may not have the same opportunity.
Basically, if you're able to get a piece of the pie and choose to or not, it's a privilege. If you're "entitled" to the piece of pie and choose to or not, it's a right. I don't know how else to explain it cause I don't even know if wat I jus' said makes sense ........
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I'm sure da rail going be open at dat time.
Jus' joke. So you're da "minority" eh?
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Amen.
I no like drive 'den.... cause 'den how I going grind and drive same time
Already li'dat, each offense go higher. I tink on da third one it's like $200.
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Excellent analogy. I really dunno why motorcycles are "exempt" but I believe it has to do with the numbah of people it can carry. At most - without a sidecar - a bike can carry two (three if you reeeeaaaallly skinny) so how come a two seater (Corvette) no can 'den? I dunno. Motorcycle riders also have to get anoddah license as well so not sure if dat has to do something with it either. Or maybe engine size. I really dunno but my logical guess would be because of the numbah of rider/passenger (2), da engine size and also dat da license is different.
Lemme ask you 'dis - since you mentioned da size of da bike - do you get upset if/wen you see a single bike take up a full size stall in a crowded parking lot?
I know a TON of people who do... I'm one of them... dat gets upset wen I see anoddah bike take an entire stall wen we can park practically anywhere.
Also, there must be oddah drivers dat tink about da driving space cause at least every oddah day I get one car that either has their bumpah literally inches from my rear tire or on da side of da bike wea if Da Wife puts her leg down, she goin' stand on da bumpah. WWD!
September 23rd, 2008 at 2:55 pm
since i live and work in town, it's sad (or maybe lucky) to say that i have never ever BEEN in the zipper lane! i can't even figure out how the thing works!
how does it get set up?
September 23rd, 2008 at 3:03 pm
BL: i don't mind if the bikes and scooters take a stall but what i really hate is when people *think* they have nice cars (exception is ferrari, haha) and take up two stalls on purpose. i would think by doing that, you are telling people how d**k you really are and more so they're gonna want to key/dent your car. if i had a POS car, i would intentionally park next to them and straddle the line. hahaha.
September 23rd, 2008 at 3:30 pm
I agree with honda si boy. no mind too much of da bikes take one parking stall but those "nice" cars taking two stalls? WWD? dats why wen we go someplace usually park far and walk, good exercise too. but I noticing cars starting to squeeze through stalls to make short cuts through the parking lot cuz dea to lazy for go the correct way. small kine close dea stay cut da turns too. no can win.
September 23rd, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Interesting discussion on rights and privileges. Driving is a privilege...not an entitlement or right.
Though voting is a "right," it too can be taken away. Incarcerated felons lose their "right" to vote...and the denial can continue if released.
September 23rd, 2008 at 4:36 pm
The whole problem is based on traffic. Just get too much cars on the road. Hopefully they make this zipper lane thing and who knows about the rail system. I recently emailed the mayor and suggested that his city employees use a charted bus service which would take these thousands of workers out of their cars and off the public buses. The state could jump on too. More so less cars on the road. Ah well see though, "nobody listens to Turtle."
September 23rd, 2008 at 4:42 pm
bamboohouse808: OMG! Sooo cold in there. I'd freeze! Tell me why it's like the frigid North Pole in the middle of campus. Aigoo!
September 23rd, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Ahh, BL, I think your clarification of rights vs privileges regard driving one car left me dizzy...no can think already, too tired fo' beef da point...ok den, it's a privilege and not a right to go drive one car. I bettah consult my constitutional lawyer friend, Mistah Kaumanua, esq. You sure you not running fo' office?
September 23rd, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Whether there should be 2 or 3 riders in the zip lane depends on whether enough people can or are willing to carry 3.
Going with 3 would be good if more people carpooled to use the z lane to the point of having a meaningful use of the z lane. I don't know what exactly "meaningful" use is, but enough so there the lane is used near capacity and it can still flow. If this was the case, then 3 would be much better than 2.
But if not enough people use the z lane because cannot find 3 people, then traffic will be worse when compared to having the z lane allowing 2 riders. The remaining lanes would be more congested and the z lane would be underutilized. Not to mention the z lane is taking away a lane from the opposite direction.
So really, it depends on how people react. Give it some time and see if people are willing to car pool with 3 or more. Hopefully, someone is keeping count out there.
September 23rd, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Whoa neva even know had new topic
So what the "beef" about the traffic...... I just stay home and read all the blogs and posts, noneed go work, for what
I try to work around the traffic, depends on were the job is located. So kinda lucky......but I do agree with you BL, think the PM zip would help, cannot get any worse....
September 23rd, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Was playing golf today in Ewa (1st time in 18 mos) and noticed dem adding a lane on both sides of Fort Weaver. I think it was known for a long time how much development was coming to Ewa and only now is the infrastructure catching up. Talk about poor planning!
The wife and I looked at Ewa and Mililani to live over 10 years ago but chose Salt Lake because of the traffic.
September 23rd, 2008 at 9:56 pm
I don't get it...
People complain about the traffic and when a solution is suggested, there is always opposition. Everything is monku, monku, monku. But no counter solutions! Let's move forward already!
Whenever I hear Maeda Timson's name in the paper it is always about her being angry at this or that. It is like she that little old neighborhood lady who never has anything nice to say and only complains! She's a neighborhood board person, not the mayor or govenor!
My thing is that we need solutions, not complaints. If you can't submit a viable potential solution, then be quiet. I hate when people object to suggestions but can't for the life of them come up with an alternative.
Thanks for listening to my rant.
September 24th, 2008 at 3:31 am
Maeda Timson doesn't want the neighborhood board to be consulted. Anything short of what "she" wants would be unacceptable anyway.
BL, you're right. The zipperlane is meant to create an incentive for carpoolers. When it was 2 riders, it was basically just another lane (although as a single rider it made my commute better).
September 24th, 2008 at 8:39 am
With a HUGE bus-like monster truck... reminds me of Tonka toys.
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Yeah, WWD! I've been noticing dat a lot mo' recently.
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Did not know dat. Mahalos fo' da info!
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Did you get a response?
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Yeah but nobody complains wen it's like 90degrees+ outside no?
Plus you not paying fo' da electricity... well, not directly at least.
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You dizzy too?
Yeah shmall kine coocoo. And nice to have some healthy discussion... jus' keepin' it real.
Why? You goin' be my campaign manager?
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Excellent point!
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Ai-goo.
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I think all da residents dat live there screamed loud and long enough fo' get those extra lanes... dunno why took so long.
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Like Jorge says, we'll see if anyone is keeping count.
September 24th, 2008 at 8:44 am
Sorry Kwonics, Lanceformers and Lurkahs.....
No post today.... prepping fo' month end closing.
I'll chime in if there any mo' posts latah...
Keep it cool.... and no beef eh!
p.s. - E Komo Mai to Glenn and Jorge! Feel free to let loose hea anytime! (but if memory serves me correctly you guys may have posted once before yeah?)
E Komo Mai Braddahs!
September 24th, 2008 at 8:50 am
Honda Si boy--my brother told me a story you'll like.
Was Xmas time, so parking at all the malls was tight. Somebody in a fancy car did what you hate--parked right in the middle of two parking spaces. But two small cars--think old Honda Civics--parked right next to the offending car (OC), within the parking space lines, so there were three cars in two spaces. In order to fit, the two small cars were only inches from the OC, so there was no way for the OC's owner to get in. The two small cars were parked with the drivers' doors away from the OC, so they could get in and out.
Don't you love stories with happy endings?
September 24th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Dirtball has a good idea.
In the SF Bay Area, to cross the bridge from Oakland to SF, solo drivers have to pay a toll, but the carpool lane is faster and free. So a lot of people without cars wait around near the bridge entrance, and a lot of solo drivers stop and pick up riders so they can use the carpool lane, then drop them off in SF. This is something that just sort of developed on its own without any government prodding.
The state and county should facilitate something similar here. Make a bus stop right off the freeway, a little before the zip lane starts--if they can figure out how to make a nice one with a roof, without it turning into a homeless shelter that would be even better--for riders to wait for wannabe zipper lane drivers. Make it easy for somebody dropping someone off there to meet a zipper driver to get back on the freeway in both directions. Have a matching bus stop in town after the zipper lane ends. Local road and sidewalk access could allow people living fairly close by to walk, skateboard, or use their folding electric scooters to get there.
September 24th, 2008 at 10:12 am
zzzzzz: haha, that is pretty funny. and those guys with the small cars get 'em right, gotta make sure you don't care if your car gets dinged up cause i'm sure that the OC's driver wasn't too happy. haha. and to be a nice guy/gal, just make sure you actually don't scratch that "nice" car.
hey BL: if you get chance to respond (i.e., slacking at work) do bikers get mad if they take one stall and then another biker parks a second bike in the same stall? i'm sure a stall can fit two bikes right?
September 24th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Makes me wish I had two small cars to drive around in the parking lot.....
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Not bad... but I think da fear of getting carjacked or something bad happening would scare most drivers from doing dat. They really do dat in SF/Oakland? I was there in Feb and saw da bridge but didn't go to the beginning to see people waiting.
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Actually, there are some riders dat park on half da stall allowing a second bike to get in but some riders don't think li'dat. Can actually fit three in most stalls - except compact. Two guarantee though.
September 24th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
speaking of parking lots.
why is it dat peeps always walk in da driving lanes? jalike dey thinking...."that's it.....i found my parking space" or "i finished my shopping so ainokea bout all da oddah cars circling da lot....and i now have da right to walk in the middle of the lane or whereva i please". WWD?
try go keeaumoku walmart.....dass da worstest.
September 26th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
In response to the zipper lane for 3 people, Maeda is correct. The DOT conducted a survey and found that the zipper lane is UNDERUSED! Why spend all that money for something that is underused and traffic is so backed up on all the other lanes! Or let 2 or more use the zipper when there are accidents which occured twice this week and sitting at a standstill WASTING PRECIOUS GAS while zipper lane was empty! At times, no cars passed for 10-15 seconds. It is quite hard to find 3 people who live, work and has same hours as you do unless you are a family taking children into town. I don't think people will start to drive if it is changed back to 2 people..instead, I have noticed an increase in bus ridership since cost of gas has risen.