Fast-moving slugs

	Stacy Innerst, Post-Gazette Click illustration for larger image.

Today we feature slugs. Not the slimy kind in your garden, the fake coins or your slothful brother-in-law, but commuter slugs. Those of you from northern Virginia need no explanation. We take you back to the early 1970s and the advent of HOV lanes and long gas lines.

Commuters gathered at bus stops hoping a stranger would offer them a ride into Washington, D.C. It is believed bus drivers dubbed the waiting carpoolers slugs because they weren't real bus riders.

Slugs wore the name proudly. Slugging allowed the solo driver and the slugs to take advantage of Interstate 95's high-occupancy vehicle, or HOV, lanes, which can shave a half hour off the morning commute. Today Virginia officials say most of the 35,000 or so carpoolers who use the I-95 HOV lanes are sluggers. So this brilliant, non-governmental, self-regulated system takes thousands of cars off the highway.

Now, though, as the Washington Post recounts, slugging is under assault. Virginia plans to install HOT (T for Toll) lanes. Carpools of three or more would continue using the fast lanes free, but others, including solo drivers, could pay to use them. Sluggers fear many drivers will decide to pay rather than pick up passengers. An entire way of life is at stake.

Slugging Terms

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Body Snatching -- the taboo practice of drivers picking up slugs as they are walking to the slug line. This violates the "first come-first served" principle for the other slugs as well as the other drivers waiting in line.

Caller -- the first person in line whose responsibility it is to call out the destination of the car to the other slugs in line. The responsibility passes from slug to slug as the line moves forward.

Head Slug -- same as a Caller.

Scraper -- a driver who picks up slugs.

Will Call -- the driver's option to pick a slug not at the front of the line. This usually happens when a driver sees a friend and calls for that individual.

.....-- From slug-lines.com, as is the material below.

Slug etiquette

Slugs do not talk. It's a chance to think, sleep or read the paper. The last thing riders and drivers want is to feel obligated to carry on a 30-minute conversation. Sometimes conversations do take place, but use your judgment as to when it's appropriate.

No money, gifts or tokens of appreciation. A driver doesn't expect riders to help with gas money.

Cell Phones. A very short, "Hey, I'm on my way" is OK, but no long conversations about what you did last weekend!

Women. If the line has three people and the driver needs only two to meet the HOV requirement, the "line" should ensure that a woman is not left standing. Either a man forfeits his place, or the ride is declined until another slug arrives.

No smoking or eating.

The slug does not open or close the window.

Slugs and drivers usually exchange a "Thank you" before and after the ride. Slugs have the right to pass on a ride if they do not like a particular car.

Slug story 1

From slug-lines.com message board: "One morning, a line of five or six cars awaited riders on Hunter Village Drive. The first and second cars already had three people, so I got into the third car. At the same time, a car horn was blowing. Suddenly, an angry man appeared at the driver's window. Shaking a finger at me, he shouted, 'You will get out of this car and ride with me; you have just defied slug etiquette!'

Understanding his frustration and shocked by his lack of self control, I responded: 'I got into this car because I thought I saw three people in the other two cars, and with your anger, I will not get into your car!' 'Well if you don't,' he blurted, 'I'll block this guy in!'

Following through with his threat, he got into his car, backed up, repositioned it and attempted to do block us in. He wasn't successful. We left (with lots to talk about) and arrived the Pentagon, somewhat shaken, without further incident."

Slug story 2

"For those of you who pride yourself in following good 'slug' etiquette, I'd like to suggest that when a slug requests to roll down the windows, the best response is "if you need to please do." I learned this when I first began using the slug system.

One day, as I drove home, a gentleman asked if he could roll down the window. I replied that I intended to run the air conditioner and would prefer to leave the windows up. Our exchange was cordial, but a half minute later I regretted my decision and couldn't roll down the window fast enough! The gentleman was beet-red from embarrassment, but in all fairness, he had tried politely to spare us."

HOT the rage

A HOT lane toll system, like the one contemplated in Virginia has been in place in California for a decade. One opened last month in Minneapolis; new ones are under construction in Denver and Houston.