Sydney: Motorcycle go-slow to protest tolls

[Bob]

Motorcyclists are to 'slow ride' across the Sydney Harbour Bridge to protest unfair toll prices.

Guy Stanford, chairman of the Motorcycle Council of NSW said historically, motorcycles have paid a only one-quarter of the rate applied to cars. However this historic reduction has been overlooked in the latest pricing. "Tolls levied on motorcycle riders in NSW are simply unfair and despite getting the occasional polite hearing from bureaucrats, it's clear we've been overlooked," Mr Stanford said.

Riders will donate the price of the toll to the Salvation Army.

[Waylander]

Hmm only toll road I've come across here is the one out by Tauranga wich is free for bikes. (pedel and motor.) Same thing with the toll roads in Dallas. (4 of them last I was there.) It just makes sense to me. Bikes make up a very small minority of traffic anywhere (unless there is a rally) and they cause less road and environmental damage than a cage so even the HOV (2 peaple or more only) lanes were all access to bikes in Texas. (havn't come across something like that here yet)

[Bob]

One of our lobbying groups organised a similar protest over here. The toll on the bridge in question meant we needed a combination of coins, so what was organised was to go up to the toll gate, stop, turn off bike, take off gloves, fish about in pockets to try to find the coins.

If anyone said anything, apologise profusely for holding everyone up, but on a bike you cannot get to change in pockets easily.

Result? The toll was waived for bikes.

Peaceful, polite protest that worked.