Toll Roads

[Pete_Tallahassee]

I find the tolls charged for motorcycles to be unfair and counter productive. If trucks pay more than cars why do motorcycles pay the same as cars? I would think that in this day of saving energy, governments would provide incentives for people to ride less energy consuming vehicles. Charging 1/4 to 1/2 that of cars would approach fairness. My position is that motorcycles and scooters should not be charged anything and in fact have a special lane so as to not impede traffic.
I know that in addition to a slippery oil buildup right where you stop, one runs the risk of a cell phone using cage driver hitting them.
Because of this inequity I have taken it upon myself to help the public also come to this realization.
When I stop and kill the motor I also remove my gloves so I can unzip the tank bag, get out my wallet, pay the nice attendant and explain to them how much better it would be if the bikes just passed on through. I also tell them of the countries around the word that have adopted this. After I put the wallet back in its proper place, put on the gloves and start the bike I ask if they would please relay this to their supervisor. I ask your help!

"And the only reason I'm singin' you the song now is 'cause you may know
Somebody in a similar situation
Or you may be in a similar situation, and if you're in a situation like
That, there's only one thing you can do
Walk into the shrink wherever you are, just walk in, say, "Shrink, you
Can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant", and walk out
You know, if one person, just one person, does it, they may think he's
Really sick and they won't take him
And if two people do it, in harmony, they may think they're both faggots and
They won't take either of them
And if three people do it! Can you imagine three people walkin' in, singin'
A bar of "Alice's Restaurant" and walkin' out? They may think it's an
Organization!
And can you imagine fifty people a day? I said FIFTY people a day
Walkin' in, singin' a bar of "Alice's Restaurant" and walkin' out? Friends
They may think it's a Movement"

Arlo Guthrie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M4rJtQF188

[802Mike]

We don't have toll roads around here but one time when traveling I-90 with the GS and
Unigo trailer I was charged for three axles. The same as a car with a camper trailer.
I said, "For real?!!" She said, "Yes, that's the charge."

[justjoe]

But you miss the point. The government doesn't really care about saving energy or reducing pollution. They may charge fees through the regulatory process. There is definitely profit to be had in forcing these "savings" on to the populace. But the government really doesn't care. If they did, public transport would be paid for with exorbitant fees on personally owned vehicles, licensing and massive taxation.... like the rest of the world.

[Pete_Tallahassee]

I missed this. Right Arm!

[Lee]

We don't have toll roads around here but one time when traveling I-90 with the GS and
Unigo trailer I was charged for three axles. The same as a car with a camper trailer.
I said, "For real?!!" She said, "Yes, that's the charge."

We rarely use toll roads but I think it's standard to charge by the axle and not by weight.

[Lee]

I find the tolls charged for motorcycles to be unfair and counter productive.

When you get the toll problem solved work on National Parks.
Debbie and I pay more when on 2 bikes than a van load does entering a park.

[Pete_Tallahassee]

You don't have the Senior Pass? I know Deb is way too young to qualify but you should have one. They are $80.00 now but good for life.

https://www.nationalparks.org/connec...-rate-increase

[Lee]

The point is we would need two passes. If I had a van with 8 people I would only need one pass.

BTW I missed getting a $10 senior pass by a few months.

[aviator]

Or if you serve its free.

[Lee]

Or if you serve its free.

I agree with that policy.

[Lee]

If you don't have a EZ pass how does everyone deal with digging out money at a toll booth?
I have a small tin I keep in the top of my tank bag if I think we'll have tolls.
I can get at the tin with gloves on and hand it to the attendant.
I think it was Mike that made this suggestion some years back.

[955i]

Pete said: "The running of my mouth does not take up any additional time."

Pete, now that right there is funny; I don't care WHO you are! Plus, I have a good picture in my mind of what all this would look like.

[Capnrip]

You're wasting your breath talking policy with whomever is taking your money. I know around here the toll takers don't even work for DOT, they're all contracted, and if they did they're not at a level to effect change. Lee is right, your state legislator is the bottom of where you need to address your concerns. Complaining to the toll taker is akin to bitching at the person in the drive through window if you have a problem with McDonalds' corporate policy. Might make you feel good but completely ineffective, and you've slightly worsened someone else's day. The Pete I know is about brightening people's day. A day polisher. Feel free to put that on a resume, day polisher.

[Pete_Tallahassee]

Thanks for that Wes, I'm trying to "polish the day" for motorcycle riders. Writing to my state legislator is only one way to fix this inequity. Encouraging cage drivers to write their state legislator magnifies my actions. Let me be clear, I am not doing anything to waste time while I get out the money, on the other hand I am not doing anything to speed up the process. It is what it is. If motorcycles just passed through without stopping or paying everyone would benefit.

[cabnfvr]

I suspect cars and motorcycle pay the same because they are paying to "use" the toll road. Trucks pay more because of their weight and subsequent wear to the road. It would be great if motorcycles paid less than cars but it doesn't keep me up nights. One morning about 4:00 am in Tulsa OK we came to a toll gate. Closed, but enough room to get around on the bike. The toll was $1.25. I dug around and managed 85 cents. I tossed the 85 cents into the toll gate basket, turned and did a shrug to the camera and then proceeded around the gate. We never got a letter and we know they got our licence plate so I guess in the grand scheme of things we're 40 cents to the good in this world.

[Pete_Tallahassee]

Tim, it doesn't keep me up at night but as you stated trucks pay more because they wear out the road faster. So were is that logic as to motorcycles?
The limited wear on the road and the time it takes to get out the toll call for a separate lane. It does not have to be wider than a motorcycle. If you fit you do not pay.
PMS: In the grand scheme of things you are way behind if you paid the same as a car each time.

Again, a separate lane : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M4rJtQF188

[802Mike]

Electric vehicles don't pay any state or federal fuel tax but use the roads.

[Lee]

One morning about 4:00 am in Tulsa OK we came to a toll gate. Closed, but enough room to get around on the bike. The toll was $1.25. I dug around and managed 85 cents. I tossed the 85 cents into the toll gate basket, turned and did a shrug to the camera and then proceeded around the gate. We never got a letter and we know they got our licence plate so I guess in the grand scheme of things we're 40 cents to the good in this world.

One time in Kansas I handed the kid in the booth two tickets and my money tin. I told him I was paying for both bikes.
Later in the day I looked in the tin and saw he only took out money for one.
Maybe he didn't know how to multiply by 2
I told Debbie I paid and she didn't She never received a ticket in the mail.

[wildbears]

If it's busy, I'll pull off to the side before entering the toll lines, pull out the needed cash, and then proceed.


Lee's solution would be great if I had a tank bag.

[NHT]

[802Mike]

As long as it works in all places that you travel.
OR, get a GS and avoid the highways.

[Capnrip]

I take a toll bridge every day. So with ez pass it's 85 cents either way, car or bike. If you pay cash it's 85 cents for a bike, $2.00 for a car. Tolling has become the only way some projects can get built anymore. No politician wants to have "raised taxes" on their resume even if it was the right thing to do.