In a memorable episode of the HBO series “Curb Your Own Enthusiasm,” comedian Larry David hires a sex worker to ride shotgun in his Toyota Prius, from the courthouse in downtown Los Angeles to Dodger Stadium.
The gimmick is expensive. Escort “Monena” charges $750, plus a baseball ticket, for her time. But viewers familiar with L.A. traffic called David a genius. With a passenger in tow, he could access the fast-moving carpool lane, bypassing a miserable jam on Highway 110 to make the game.
It was high comedy based on an absurd, if relatable, situation. And in a sort of life-imitating-art way, David’s joke would set the course of history. As the era of carpool lane privileges for low-emission cars draws to a close this week, it’s worth revisiting how it all started. The real story doesn’t involve an escort with a well-honed negotiating prowess. Yet it’s nearly as strange…