idle hybrids...

Uhm, John,

"As traffic slows down, there will be more idling cars burning more gas and emitting more pollution, but politicians will be reluctant to offend hybrid owners by revoking their privilege."

...hybrids don't emit anything when they idle because their IC engines are off. You may have noticed that when you "rented" your Prius.

It is precisely in congested stop-and-go traffic where hybrids are the most efficient and least polluting. I understand that it sort of defeats the purpose of a "high occupancy" lane to allow single-occupancy hybrids onto them, but relating that back to the Commons? Ehmmm, maybe not so much.