Transit Tolls on Western Ring Route

[MattRSK]

Life in a bubble baby.

[ManDownUnder]

The 50% admin is a bit much

Yeah - that's the bit that gets me too. Lets say they bowwor 2 billion 9and I think that's about right)... that means they collect 2 Billion + interest in tolling admin fees... on top of the 2billion + interest they have to pay back.

Remind me how 8 or 9 tolling points cost $2 billion + interest to run for 35 years?

or... assuming an interest rater of 6% (conservative) that's a grand total of 57 million a year to run... the toll booths.

WHAAAAAAAAAAAA??? They've been going to the Michalen Cullen school of taxation

[ManDownUnder]

I don't like the idea.

Living on the Peninsula means that to get anywhere we are pretty much forced to pay the tolls. There is little choice but to get on the motorway to go anywhere.

Take a look at the map and you'll find there are non tolled lanes on the NW you can use too (2 each way, with an additional 1 lane tolled each way)

[ManDownUnder]

One more point to add.

I note they mention it means this work will be done by 2015 instead of the scheduled 2030

But it also means we're paying for it until 2035, instead of 2030.

Again - why is this a good thing?

[Drum]

Many people think that when you put a toll on a road, then some huge percentage of people take the alternate route through shopping centres, past kindergartens and down quiet back streets (incidentally, this is called rat-running in traffic lingo).

In practice, this is not the case. Sure, some people will take the alternate route. But in other big cities around the world, experience shows that most people will "happily" pay tolls to get where theyre going. Tolls are a fact of life if you want to live in a big city.

But just to display my bias - BIKES SHOULD NOT BE TOLLED

[Swoop]

Many people think that when you put a toll on a road, then some huge percentage of people take the alternate route through shopping centres, past kindergartens and down quiet back streets (incidentally, this is called rat-running in traffic lingo).

In practice, this is not the case. Sure, some people will take the alternate route. But in other big cities around the world, experience shows that most people will "happily" pay tolls to get where theyre going. Tolls are a fact of life if you want to live in a big city.

Did you see the article on TV3 news about the Sydney tunnel?
Most are avoiding it because of the toll. Others were shown driving around barriers to avoid paying.

[ManDownUnder]

Many people think that when you put a toll on a road, then some huge percentage of people take the alternate route through shopping centres, past kindergartens and down quiet back streets (incidentally, this is called rat-running in traffic lingo).

In practice, this is not the case. Sure, some people will take the alternate route. But in other big cities around the world, experience shows that most people will "happily" pay tolls to get where theyre going. Tolls are a fact of life if you want to live in a big city.

But just to display my bias - BIKES SHOULD NOT BE TOLLED

Yeah - I've been in and seen a lot of big cities around the world whgere tolls are a way of life... and that's why I don;t believe them when they say they'll lift the tolls after 35 years.

No way jose - they're profitable and the tolls will stay!

[Ixion]

Take a look at the map and you'll find there are non tolled lanes on the NW you can use too (2 each way, with an additional 1 lane tolled each way)

BUT - There is NO non tolled lanes on the Manukau - Onehunga section . Or on the Greenhithe bridge section. Both existing roads which are to be tolled. And neither of them have *sensible* alternatives. Except SH1/Harbour Bridge.

[ManDownUnder]

BUT - There is NO non tolled lanes on the Manukau - Onehunga section . Or on the Greenhithe bridge section. Both existing roads which are to be tolled. And neither of them have *sensible* alternatives. Except SH1/Harbour Bridge.

The Greenhithe section can be gone around if you take the Coatseville Riverhead Hwy. A long way but a lot of fun.

I hear you though - and agree...

[Dai]

..

But just to display my bias - BIKES SHOULD NOT BE TOLLED

They tried to toll bikes in the UK in two places that I know of.

The Dartford Tunnel and the new bridge on the Severn River.

Both times thousands of bikes all showed up at the same time. All in complete wet weather gear. Everyone had a 10 pound note in their wallet in the pants pocket. Toll was about 3 pound.

Each bike carefully pulled up, got off their bike, took of their waterproofs, got out the money, waited for change, got re dressed in kit, and drove off. Next bike repeated the proceedure. This was at every booth. Traffic jams were both massive but nothing they could do as we were acting within the law and our conduct was restrained and polite.

The next day at both places there were no tolls for motorbikes.

Would work here if it could be organised

[ManDownUnder]

They tried to toll bikes in the UK in two places that I know of.

The Dartford Tunnel and the new bridge on the Severn River.

Both times thousands of bikes all showed up at the same time. All in complete wet weather gear. Everyone had a 10 pound note in their wallet in the pants pocket. Toll was about 3 pound.

Each bike carefully pulled up, got off their bike, took of their waterproofs, got out the money, waited for change, got re dressed in kit, and drove off. Next bike repeated the proceedure. This was at every booth. Traffic jams were both massive but nothing they could do as we were acting within the law and our conduct was restrained and polite.

The next day at both places there were no tolls for motorbikes.

Would work here if it could be organised

Count me in! We'll need to do a couple of laps going through all the tolled ring roads... but yes - count me in!

[Drum]

Did you see the article on TV3 news about the Sydney tunnel?
Most are avoiding it because of the toll. Others were shown driving around barriers to avoid paying.

No, didnt see the article on TV3 - but the alternative to the tunnel is the bridge - not a series of quiet back streets - so whats the problem?

And if people can drive around the barriers then the design isnt too flash. From memory, those barriers are bloody hard to drive around, and the whole area has cameras.

When I was using the Sydney tunnel everyday, a milk token would also activate the automatic booms - at half the price! They must've had a lot of milk in their smoko room I reckon!

[Karma]

Count me in! We'll need to do a couple of laps going through all the tolled ring roads... but yes - count me in!

+1

[sAsLEX]

Ramp monitoring is a disaster.

But it is used so well in every other country that uses it!




P/T

[ManDownUnder]

I can see it now... the first ever KB ride organised down a motorway... and at 5:10pm on a weeknight. I love it.

A fine example of the system being used to fuck itself.