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Man wants to drive electric car on road
State bans it from certain streets
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An Oak Park resident who wants to reduce his carbon footprint and use less gasoline has taken to the streets to ask for help.
Richard Ardi, 51, won support this week at a meeting of the Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council, which he asked for help so that he could drive about town in a low-speed electric vehicle that state law bans from some streets.
"My car can legally be driven on any street with a speed limit not greater than 35 miles per hour, but to get from my house to my daughter's school or my son's school, or to go to the market, I can only take back streets part of the way," Ardi said. "At some point, I have to drive on Kanan Road for 200 yards to get from here to there. But Kanan Road is posted at 45 miles per hour, and I've been told that is illegal. Help!"
In an advisory vote Tuesday night, the three council members present voted to ask County Supervisor Linda Parks to take up the baton. Parks, who also was present, acknowledged the request, saying, "That's what the (county) Transportation Plan is all about."
On Wednesday, Parks said her office had already contacted the county Transportation Department to "look at moving forward and taking steps for an Electric Vehicle Transportation Plan that is apparently needed. I really like the idea of getting this plan in place to serve Oak Park. And so far as I know, there's nothing else (like it) in Ventura County."
Ardi also owns an SUV but prefers his Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV), a battery-powered, 1,290-pound car that he calls a smart choice for green commuters. It is 128 inches long, 70 inches high and 55 inches wide.
According to Global Electric Motorcars, a Chrysler company, the electric car meets federal safety requirements and can be driven on public roads posted at 35 mph or less.
It's too early to tell how much local officials can help because allowing the vehicle on Kanan Road even for a few hundred yards would require changes in the state Vehicle Code, according to a Sheriff's Department representative at the meeting.
Ardi said he wants the legal option to take an alternative route if needed, much like the way bicyclists are allowed on state highways if no other options exist. "If a bicyclist can be on the 23 Freeway with cars zooming by at 75 miles per hour when there is no other alternative, my position is why can't I go on Kanan Road at 45 miles per hour for the short distance I want to go?" he said.
Ardi said he purchased the four-seat car July 5 for $10,000. "I've already put 1,000 miles on it, for $20 worth of electricity," he said, using it for errands like shopping and summer school.
After seat-belting in his son, Ryan, 10, and daughter Alex, 9, "off we go," the single father said. "Everywhere, we get thumbs up and people smiling" and some asking questions, he said.
Ardi, who described himself as semi-retired, said he hopes that officials can work together and find a solution.
Posted by 6bucks on August 29, 2008 at 6:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
No thanks, there's enough idiots on the road causing problems that we have to keep track of. Last thing drivers need is someone putting along under the speed limit regardless if it's 200 yards or not. It's just one more hazard on the road to deal with.
Posted by vcspinner on August 29, 2008 at 6:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If you can legally drive a truck on Kanan at 35mph or slower (and you can), you should be able to drive an EV. The law should be changed. Existing vehicle code governing slow moving vehicles has worked well for years.
Posted by goldeneye on August 29, 2008 at 7:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Drive that heap of junk to save money on gas if you want to but the argument about reducing your "carbon footprint" is just stupid. I see no evidende that global warming is man made. I think that "man made" global warming is the greatest scientific hoax in the last 100 years.
Posted by Nosmo_King on August 29, 2008 at 7:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Simple solution, Reduce the speed limit on Kanan road.
Posted by Scapegoat on August 29, 2008 at 8:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Amen goldeneye
Posted by Camman1 on August 29, 2008 at 8:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah, next it will be, but I need to drive 5 miles on the 101 to get to XYZ...
Posted by virtualpaulh on August 29, 2008 at 9:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think I've seen this guy. Blue with a longer wheel base than your average golf cart? He drives faster than 35 if it's him. Love to know what the safety rating is on that!?
Posted by IslandHopper on August 29, 2008 at 10:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If it is built after 1995 it needs a 3rd brake light and airbags. If you don't have those, forget it pal.
Posted by bsnsmn on August 29, 2008 at 10:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well.........since "certain" drivers get away with doing 50mph in the fast lane on a 65mph freeway (15mph difference) he should be able to do 35 on secondary roads IF THERE IS MULTIPLE LANES! Those "SLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT" signs should also be printed in a "certain other" language.......think of how much gas everyone could save if everyone understood and followed just that rule! Also, other states use "vehicles" have right of way over pedestrians, why can't we? How many times have you been stopped at a signaled crosswalk (along with 20 or 30 other vehicles) just so 1 individual can cross the street on a bicycle?
How about synchronized signals? I can't stand it when a multiple amount of flowing vehicles gets stopped by a red light just because a single vehicle pulls up to the cross traffic side of an intersection. How much gas is being wasted by those multiple vehicles getting the momentum again? And all because of 1 other! Stop giving a green light for 1 car, make them turn right, just like UPS routes there drivers to make as many right turns as possible to save on fuel.
Posted by surfwidow on August 29, 2008 at 12:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
some people will do ANYTHING for attention....what a tool.
Posted by fish on August 29, 2008 at 1:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
goldeneye and Scapegoat...
So I take it that you both have PhD's in climatology that makes you qualified to be able to make the asssertation that human caused global warming doesnt exist? Please provide me the evidence. The burden of proof lies on you, and others, that make the statement that it doesnt exist. Just as scientists are trying to prove that it does exist, no one is trying to prove that it doesnt exist. We only hear from the naysayers and nonbelievers.
On another note...even if global warming doesn't exist, or at the least isn't man-made, what is so wrong with wanting to breath air that is a little cleaner and healthier than it was for our parents? We protect our children from crime, drugs and child predators...why not protect their lungs from all of the crap spewing from our tailpipes as well?
Posted by sparks240 on August 29, 2008 at 4:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Unless he charges his batteries with solar power, his "carbon footprint" has been moved to the Edison power plant.
Posted by Phatpig on August 29, 2008 at 10:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't think he needs to change his batteries to solar. His "carbon Footprint" may have been moved to the Edison Plant but I beleive out here the power is hydro electric.
Also, how about the fact that the less gas we purchase, the less money is going into the pockets of people in the middle east that want to kill us !
Good for him. We should all be driving electric and our boys could come home !
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