HOV Slug Lines

"In Washington, slugging has been around since the onset of HOV lanes in 1971, and has been a staple of Washington commuter culture since the late 1980s. In fact, an entire slugging subculture has emerged, complete with an explanatory website, vernacular, etiquette, and, of course, a book. The website even offers a 'lost and found' where slugs can reclaim umbrellas, purses and scarves inadvertently left with 'scrapers' (the slugs' term for drivers). Slugs are entirely self-governed. Slug etiquette, for example, includes items like "never leave a woman standing alone in a slug line," 'don't converse unless the driver talks first,' and in any case, 'no talk of religion, politics or sex.' Slugs and scrapers self-police, because every slug who breaks a rule turns off a potential ride home to the system. The same goes for scrapers."

Thanks to transport-policy listserv