Bridge tolls

[jc2ducati]

Guys, i just saw a news report about the GGB possibly starting to charge toll during commute hours, consistent with other bridges. WHAAA?? It has always been HOV for commute hours on a bike. Has this changed now?

I absolutely see this as a big safety issue, on top of the fact that it will take me several times longer to pay the damn toll: stop, put gear in neutral, not neutral, put gear in neutral finally, take gloves off, reach into finding my wallet, grab bills, pay toll operator, put wallet back, put glove back on, put in gear, ride off. Yes, this will slow traffic behind me.

On top of this, I have had the worst near misses at those darn tolls. Cages dodging in and out to save a car length. A ton of oil in front of toll operator, where it's like stepping on slick ice.

Who's fighting this if it's true?

[desmoquattro]

I wouldn't doubt it. That's what they're doing on the State-owned bridges (Bay, San Mateo, Dumbarton, etc). Sign of the times.

You should invest in Fastpass. It'll make your life easier during non-commute hours.

[mostrobelle]

Yup.  Fastrak FTW.  That'll help a bunch.

This came up on BARF a little while ago too.  My argument was basically this:  We want nice things but we don't want to pay for them.  I hate the idea of having to pay to cross the bridge, but I'd rather have a bridge--and a safe one--to cross than none at all.  Good infrastructure comes at a price.  If you're not paying it in tolls then you're going to pay for it somewhere else.  <shrugs>

[Michael Moore]

Yeah, but I still think charging motos full price is short sighted.  We don't tear up the roadways like trucks, don't take up space like cars, and yet get charged the same.

Personally, even though I have FasTrack, when I go over the GGB during commute hours I plan on pulling off my gloves, unzipping my 'stich pocket, digging out a $20, then reversing the whole process. It's my own little version of civil disobedience.

[jc2ducati]

Yes, i think we all understand the "someone has to pay argument". I was coming at it from a safety issue. I already have fasttrack for the cage, i don't want another one on the bike so the govt can know where i am at all times.

Also, it still doesn't help for those times I forgot the transponder is in my "other" jacket, etc. etc.

The whole point is to speed traffic across the bridge during commute hours. We as "green" citizens are doing our share by riding our more green and efficient bikes taking up 1/10th the road clogging space on the bridge.

Now, we will get penalized for all that by increased chances for accidents, too? That's just not acceptable to me.

Yup.  Fastrak FTW.  That'll help a bunch.

This came up on BARF a little while ago too.  My argument was basically this:  We want nice things but we don't want to pay for them.  I hate the idea of having to pay to cross the bridge, but I'd rather have a bridge--and a safe one--to cross than none at all.  Good infrastructure comes at a price.  If you're not paying it in tolls then you're going to pay for it somewhere else.  <shrugs>

[jc2ducati]

I have visions of Critical Mass on the bridge!

Personally, even though I have FasTrack, when I go over the GGB during commute hours I plan on pulling off my gloves, unzipping my 'stich pocket, digging out a $20, then reversing the whole process. It's my own little version of civil disobedience.

[Popeye the Sailor]

Yeah, but I still think charging motos full price is short sighted.  We don't tear up the roadways like trucks, don't take up space like cars, and yet get charged the same.

Personally, even though I have FasTrack, when I go over the GGB during commute hours I plan on pulling off my gloves, unzipping my 'stich pocket, digging out a $20, then reversing the whole process. It's my own little version of civil disobedience.

Pay with dollar coins. They have nowhere to put them.

[Michael Moore]

Pay with dollar coins. They have nowhere to put them.

Ooohh. I like the way you think...

[johnc]

Pay with dollar coins. They have nowhere to put them.

wtf ... if you REALLY want to practice civil disobedience, pay your toll with loose, random change (a hand full at a time). 

[DanTheMan]

If you already have fasttrack just add your plate to the account. There is no need to carry the transponder, they'll take a picture of your plate and bill your account.

I like the critical mass idea. Fill the bridge with bikes, and everyone stop to pay with cash, take your gloves off, dismount, pay with a 20 or 100 bill.

[Le Piou]

If you already have fasttrack just add your plate to the account. There is no need to carry the transponder, they'll take a picture of your plate and bill your account.

Won't they charge full price instead of the carpool price in that case???

[somegirl]

Won't they charge full price instead of the carpool price in that case???

I assume they would charge based on which lane you are in.

[Desmostro]

I understand that if you have a fast track account, you can use the FastTrack lane and stay
very very close to the left side of the lane...
um...the camera can't really read your plates. You can test this by checking your FT account to see if your account got charged,   or not.
I just can't respect really bad design  

Be sure to wave  

PS
If you do this without a Fast Track account, or without a license plate (new bike situation) be prepared to get a $250. ticket.

If you already have fasttrack just add your plate to the account. There is no need to carry the transponder, they'll take a picture of your plate and bill your account.

I like the critical mass idea. Fill the bridge with bikes, and everyone stop to pay with cash, take your gloves off, dismount, pay with a 20 or 100 bill.

[Blake]

I'd almost be tempted to go into work late just to participate in a critical mass gathering.

STICK IT TO THE MAN   

[somegirl]

But I understand that if you have a fast track account, you can use the FastTrack lane and stay
very very close to the left side of the lane...
um...the camera can't really read your plates. You can test this by checking your FT account to see if your account got charged,   or not.

It also seems to miss car license plates if you have a trunk rack with bicycle on.