Northern Gateway - motorbikes to pay $2 like a car

**Mom** · 10th February 2009, 09:19

There is a sign in Warkworth saying dont stop to pay your tolls, use the 0800 number. The TV news on Sunday night said motorists were advise NOT to use the Northern Gateway, but to use SH16 and the old Waiwera route heading south. HELLO???

We are advised not to use this wonderful feat of modern engineering at all?

I work a few hours at the i-site here in Warkworth, you would not credit the amount of people we get in there complaining about the toll payment system One woman yesterday attempted to use her credit card to pay the toll and the machine would not accept it. She rang the 0800 # to find out what was wrong to be told there was nothing wrong with their system. A friend came for a visit on Thursday last week, he stopped to pay at Dairy Flat, only one toll machine was working, it did not recognise his rego #. Absolute joke!

**Silage** · 10th February 2009, 12:46

Is the reason that bikes are "currently" charged $0.00 because the number plate reading system reads the front of the vehicle and... Otherwise they might just get the local Mobil hire trailer.

If so, then they are not about to charge for bikes any time soon so back to the latte boys and girls.

**swbarnett** · 10th February 2009, 14:18

Originally Posted by Finn

How the fuck does a road have teething problems?

Two reasons for problems:

1. The payment system is crap.

2. They stopped too soon. If they'd carried on to Warkworth maybe it would've helped.

**MadDuck** · 15th February 2009, 19:05

Interesting yet unintentional test of the difference.

Coming back from Puhoi. I chose to go through the tunnells and on the toll road. Miss.L went the old way. So to get home I come off at Orewa and across Grand Drive.

I am sitting at the lights to turn right to Orewa and Miss.L rides past. My average speed was 110-120kms keeping with the flow of the traffic. No hold ups.

**Maha** · 16th February 2009, 15:10

Originally Posted by MadDuck

Interesting yet unintentional test of the difference.

Coming back from Puhoi. I chose to go through the tunnells and on the toll road. Miss.L went the old way. So to get home I come off at Orewa and across Grand Drive.

I am sitting at the lights to turn right to Orewa and Miss.L rides past. My average speed was 110-120kms keeping with the flow of the traffic. No hold ups.

That is interesting.
I went down to Albany this morning on the bike, a car was keeping up with me from the hungry creek passing at about 140. Get to the tunnels and let him have the outside lane, which he takes and exits the tunnels doing possibly 130 plus. A cop was sitting northbound just out of the tunnels and he gave chase. I hadn't seen the gap in the lane divider until today. Car guy got a ticket ha ha ha !!!

**Badger8** · 16th February 2009, 17:05

Originally Posted by Silage

Is the reason that bikes are "currently" charged $0.00 because the number plate reading system reads the front of the vehicle and... Otherwise they might just get the local Mobil hire trailer.

If so, then they are not about to charge for bikes any time soon so back to the latte boys and girls.

According to their site they take both front and rear plate, and compare them to confirm. In the event they dont match, it goes through a human (or a close approximation thereof).
Came through it on sat, still free for bikes. Also only saw 1 vehicle on the whole thing, made for a swift carefree journey in the pouring rain

**piston broke** · 16th February 2009, 17:08

Originally Posted by Maha

That is interesting.
I went down to Albany this morning on the bike, a car was keeping up with me from the hungry creek passing at about 140. Get to the tunnels and let him have the outside lane, which he takes and exits the tunnels doing possibly 130 plus. A cop was sitting northbound just out of the tunnels and he gave chase. I hadn't seen the gap in the lane divider until today. Car guy got a ticket ha ha ha !!!

so you were'nt doin the mono vid this morning then?

**Sis** · 10th November 2009, 10:55

Advert in the NZ Herald today on page A14 asking for our views on "whether motorcyclists should pay a toll to use the toll road, just like every other motorist." That is one loaded sentence.

Have your say - either phone 0800 40 20 20 or visit www.nzta.govt.nz/consultation

Seems ACC may have started something here!

**Hiflyer** · 10th November 2009, 14:00

If it does change I'll go around, the waiting in line etc and hassle of paying online will be nullified by going around . . .

**Swoop** · 10th November 2009, 14:53

Submission sent.

It will make sod-all difference though. This road has been designed to collect tolls for 35 YEARS.
They are borrowing against future income from this project... to make MORE projects that will (presumably) be tolled.

**javawocky** · 10th November 2009, 15:49

Bad bad timing. We are already being raped by the ACC.

It won't effect me directly as I think the toll road is boring, so I always take go the old twisty way.

At the very least bikes should be charged $1 or less - less wheels - less weight - less traffic jams.

**MarkH** · 10th November 2009, 16:26

Is it still costing them $2.70 to collect each toll?

**discotex** · 10th November 2009, 16:54

Might I suggest if they do introduce a toll we take a public holiday as a time to remind them we're not ok with it....

I'd pay the toll once to fill the tunnel both ways with slow moving bikes

**discotex** · 10th November 2009, 17:01

Love the tick box that might as well say:

"Please ignore my submission because I ride a motorcycle"

NZTA have been anti-bikes and clearly they're trying to help their ACC brothers out.

It's claimed we made 25,000 bike trips so they're hardly going to make a dent in the debt repayments by charging bikes (the stated reason). Clearly it's being done to antagonise and divide the public (the real reason).

**Mystic13** · 10th November 2009, 21:38

Borrowed from another forum. Submissions close Friday 27th November as to your views on paying a toll on the Northern Gateway.

The Toll Road website has been updated to link to further information for the Motorcycle Consultation.

http://www.nzta.govt.nz/consultation...ion/index.html

Any thoughts on submissions? Dejavu.

This is the Northern gateway for those that don't know.

http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/tol...-tollroad.html