Northern Gateway - motorbikes to pay $2 like a car

[CookMySock]

I went for a quick whizz on it last week. Cost me nothing - but was told trespass orders can become troublesome.

You took a whizz on the motorway?

That's a good idea. Lets all go up there and whizz on it.

Steve

[MarkH]

You already know the answer to this. It's not about equality. It's about maximising revenue.

Steve

That is why right here, right now I am calling for ALL bikers to boycott the toll road from the day bikes are charged to use it! No revenue from us!!!

[CookMySock]

That is why right here, right now I am calling for ALL bikers to boycott the toll road from the day bikes are charged to use it! No revenue from us!!!

That won't work. Too many bikers will respond to their fears and pay up - scared of the legal system.

Use what we have so far ; take 5 mins to find your money, all pay by phone at the same time, and everything else you can think of.

Steve

[p.dath]

That is why right here, right now I am calling for ALL bikers to boycott the toll road from the day bikes are charged to use it! No revenue from us!!!

You do realise they are getting no revenue from us at the moment, so the effect will be ... nothing.

[Mom]

That is why right here, right now I am calling for ALL bikers to boycott the toll road from the day bikes are charged to use it! No revenue from us!!!

I agree with you no money from us, but how about this for a sneaky twist. Use the toll road, and stop to make a phone call to pay the toll one way. Costs $2 on credit card. Travel back and do the same thing, another $2 on your credit card. The girls that take the calls are actually really nice and it is a quick and easy process to pay by phone. The best bit is...

It costs them $2.70 to collect that $2 toll. So for every return trip a biker makes that pays for each trip by phone, it actually costs $1.40 for them to process the payments. Simple maths will surely prevail, I doubt common sense will

[The Pastor]

always carry a role of duct tape when using the toll, and just hope no cop is out and about

[MadDuck]

Simple maths will surely prevail, I doubt common sense will

Yep got my letter today...I never use the stupid toll road. So how much did the dumbarses spend sending out letters to what appears to be all registered bikes in the Auckland Region? They are already behind in their revenue gathering just by doing that.

[Maha]

That is why right here, right now I am calling for ALL bikers to boycott the toll road from the day bikes are charged to use it! No revenue from us!!!

That'll be all Kiwibikers, you do realise that over 25,000 motorcycles used the toll to the end of December last year?
Thats over 51,000 trips were made.
Only a small percentage are bikers are on this forum.

[aprilia_RS250]

I opened the letter today and all that it really told me was to pop the front wheel up nice and high when approaching the cameras.

[MarkH]

That won't work. Too many bikers will respond to their fears and pay up - scared of the legal system

Ummm, boycott the toll road = don't use that road.

They say we benefit equally, but if after 1 year of tolling bikes there are very few bikes using the road that will send a message that we don't see that we benefit as much as they claim and if forced to pay as much as cars then we just wont use the road.

I intend to use another route whenever possible, I urge all other bikers to do the same.

[Devil]

Benefit equally - yeah right. A 'car' can take 5 to 7 people for $2 through there.... with a trailer...
I will continue to use the old route either way.

[Rogue Rider]

My notes and observations: well I undertook a test today, i measured the distance of the old route which is the scenic route, and the apparent shorter convenient route through the tunnels.

Yes, tunnel route is shorter, but only by a mere 3.43km. It is also boring and straight with the only interesting things the tunnel, the sausage over bridge and getting to bird the camera's of the revenue hogs.
The old route is just under 10km, the new shorter route is just over 6km. The time difference to travel is only a mere 3-6 minutes depending how you ride...... The old route has awesome corners, tight and wide, and a nice hill treat with astonishing views. It too is also convenient as it has a fuel stop and cheap food...... oh and not much traffic these days.

Here's the cliche: the LTNZ say its going to be $2 as the apparent "Fairness" is based on the convenience factor...... It's only 3km you muppets..... $4 of toll equals up 60km riding time on my bike, 30 if I am gunning it, but that is still 10 times more than the toll route.
secondly, it takes 2 minutes, plus wait time of 4 minutes, and dismount and parking and walk to machine time of 1.5 minutes to manually pay for the toll.
It takes 4 minutes and 22 seconds to pay toll over the phone, all depending on the operator..... sometimes they do sound quite sexy, but in reality they are 400lb gypsies who can't get a public job.....
It takes 7 minutes to pay at BP, if machine is functioning correctly,
And lastly on the internet, it takes 2 minutes 40 seconds if you have broadband, on dialup........ wel 6 minutes and wait wait wait..... screw that lol.
So convenience, what a joke, to save 3 mins of travel, you still end up burning more time using the toll road to flippin pay for the stupid thing.... and if you don't do it and wait for it to come in the mail, add $2 servicing fee....... wooohoooop

Now for the conclusion: Value for money, and convenience, if it ain't free, guessin you would have to be a mug to use the toll route....... I know I won't be.

Stay upright, not up tight. Cagers can pay, leave the scenic route for bikes. Maybe the toll would be worth it if the road was like Autobahn and had no speed limit, I'd pay $10 for that lol.

[Phreak]

Motorway = BORING!!!

Back roads = WAY MORE FUN!!! (and cheaper too!)

Fuck 'em, just like the wankers behind ACC!

[Qkchk:Me]

Yes, tunnel route is shorter, but only by a mere 3.43km. It is also boring and straight with the only interesting things the tunnel, the sausage over bridge and getting to bird the camera's of the revenue hogs.
The old route is just under 10km, the new shorter route is just over 6km. The time difference to travel is only a mere 3-6 minutes depending how you ride...... The old route has awesome corners, tight and wide, and a nice hill treat with astonishing views. It too is also convenient as it has a fuel stop and cheap food...... oh and not much traffic these days.

And with the $2 you save by NOT using the toll road, you can recover the cost of the extra 3.43kms worth of fuel and maintenance.
Cost about the same either way, just takes a couple mins more on the old road + added bonus - corners!
It ain't rocket science is it?

[nosebleed]

Motorway = BORING!!!

Back roads = WAY MORE FUN!!! (and cheaper too!)

Fuck 'em, just like the wankers behind ACC!

In all fairness tho, as far as NZ motorways are concerned this 5k stretch between Orewa and the tunnels has got be one of the nicest.

Its still got an untortured surface with sweeping bends and changes in elevation. It also has 'natural' surroundings and a great view from the viaduct on a clear sunny day.