Avoiding tolls.

[SteveD]

We have a near new tollway not far from me. I use it daily to get to and from work.

The route I take only has me using one toll point, at the end of a tunnel.

It costs $1+ per use of that tunnel, but only really saves me 5-7 minutes per ride, but only 6 or so traffic lights verses over 20.

Despite the cost I continue to use it 'cause I have been cheating the camera.

I checked my online account about 3 weeks back. It hadn't charged my bike since early October, 2009! Winner. At $10 a week, that's a fair saving.

Last night, I found that it's now catching me!!!!! BUGGER. Plan B is in motion.

[Airbear]

Revolving number plate?
Take out the camera?
Ride really really fast?
C'mon Steve, what's plan B?

[SteveD]

Plan B, C, D, E. See if any of other lines work. More exhaustive testing.
Plan F: go the other way!

[gspd]

Paying at toll booths is like throwing money out the window

[Airbear]

Paying at toll booths is like throwing money out the window

It is much worse than that here, GS. Most tollways are now fully electronic and use an 'e-tag' system, where a gadget is installed in the vehicle. It makes nasty beeps as money is sucked out of your bank account. I had to use one for the first time recently in Melbourne. Without an e-tag, I had to log on to a website, give my credit card details and have $21 sucked out, all for a tollway trip that probably saved me about an hour over the shitty alternative route.

[SteveD]

Paying at toll booths is like throwing money out the window

LOL. If my exhaustive testing fails to find a satisfactory result over the next month, then I'll be changing my practice.

As Charlie wrote, ours in Melbourne are electronic, camera based, relying on registration and number recognition technology and auto billing. We don't even get the pleasure of throwing the money a little harder, it just evaporates directly from the account.

We have 2 toll systems, separately owned, but both linked via the same payment system.

The first one has cameras that takes the picture from the front of the vehicle. Bikes are therefore free, 'cause we don't have a front plate. That company has been haggling the gov. to get that changed.

The new toll road learnt from the others error unfortunately.

[SteveD]

I used the tunnel 5 times since I posted this...no charges just yet

I have stayed away from my "usual" line and so far, so good.

[grant81rs]

I used the tunnel 5 times since I posted this...no charges just yet

I have stayed away from my "usual" line and so far, so good.

Are you running wide or popping a wheelie to point the number plate to the ground out of view from the camera

[SteveD]

I used the tunnel 5 times since I posted this...no charges just yet

I have stayed away from my "usual" line and so far, so good.

Are you running wide or popping a wheelie to point the number plate to the ground out of view from the camera

1 from 6 since the 18th. Do the line, no mono's! I hope it's just a matter of finding the best line to run down. They've sorted the usual one.

[gspd]

For whom the toll bills? obviously not for thee.