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Commuters Opt For Frugal Lane
As gas prices soar, Washington area commuters are increasingly turning to fuel-efficient motorcycles. Drivers who make the switch also gain admission to the region's HOV lanes, including on I-395, above.
(By Gerald Martineau -- The Washington Post)
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"It came with new tires, and my insurance was 260 bucks a year," he said. "That's nothing. Compare that to a car. . . . Buying a hybrid for $30,000 to save gas makes no sense."
There is a downside to having more motorcycles on the road. In 2006, the number of motorcycle fatalities nationwide continued its steady climb and increased 5 percent over 2005, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Last year, Virginia topped 1,000 road deaths for the first time since 1990, due partly to a spike in motorcycle deaths, which totaled 126, according to the Department of Motor Vehicles. In Maryland, motorcycle-related fatalities also have been rising steadily, with 96 in 2007, up from 87 in 2006, according to the State Highway Administration.
The need for caution has not escaped such new riders as Watson, who said he still repeats lessons from his training course in his head as he makes turns. (" Slow, look, press, roll.")
On a recent morning, he took extra care during his new routine: He zipped up his padded mesh jacket, fastened a yellow reflective vest, slid on gloves, squeezed into a helmet and strapped on a backpack carrying his BlackBerry, a fresh undershirt and a change of socks for when he arrives at work.
"Now I can get away with sleeping in a bit," he said.
Staff researchers Meg Smith and Julie Tate contributed to this report.
