TRANSURBAN BREAKS DEAL - YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR USING CITYLINK ! 11 May 2005 TransUrban has reneged on a deal made with riders 2 years ago where they said we would NOT be charged for 5 years for using CityLink. Today we heard from Jane Calvert at TransUrban indicating that this agreement will not be honoured. Implementation of this tolling on motorcyclists is scheduled to start just before the Melbourne Toy Runs in December. It is expected that a motorcycle will be tolled at 50% of the going rate for a car. For example, a trip involving both the South Eastern Freeway and the Bolte bridge on a daily basis will result in a weekly charge of approximately $40 to the rider. The MRAA is disappointed that TransUrban would renege on a deal that encourages the use of CityLink by motorcyclists. MRAA representatives will be meeting with TransUrban in the next week to negotiate this issue. Should this fail, the MRAA invites all motorcycle groups, clubs and riders who are unhappy with being charged tolls to join them on the Steps of Parliament 4:00pm Friday May 20 For a ride through CityLink, as a demonstration of our disapproval of TransUrban's position. If you wish to let TransUrban know how you feel, email TransUrban's Media & Community Relations Adviser, Jane Calvert, or the Minister for Transport Peter Batchelor. For further information on this matter, please phone Dale Maggs on (0432) 776 458 or email <!-- e --><a href="mailto:mraa@mraa.org.au">mraa@mraa.org.au</a><!-- e -->. Bikers revved up over CityLink toll By Dan Silkstone Transport reporter The Age May 12, 2005 Citylink is about to end the free ride for Victorian motorcyclists by switching on new cameras that will make them pay tolls for the first time. Motorbike riders have not paid tolls since CityLink opened in 1999 because the number plate recognition cameras used by the toll road's operator, Transurban, take only front-on snapshots. Motorcycles do not have front number plates and cannot be fitted with e-tags. But new rear-view cameras recently installed along the toll road will allow Transurban to identify motorcycle number plates and realise its long-held goal of recovering tolls from motorcyclists. CityLink spokeswoman Jane Calvert said yesterday a decision on tolling motorcyclists would not be made until testing showed the technology was reliable and efficient. If motorbike tolls are charged, they will be half those paid by car drivers. Yesterday's news drew a furious reaction from the Motorcycle Riders Association of Australia, whose president, Dale Maggs, threatened protest action if the change went ahead. "Economically and environmentally, motorcycles are a lot friendlier to Melbourne," Mr Maggs said. "We don't degrade the road like cars and trucks do. "They want to charge us half, but motorcycles weigh only a fifth of what a car does." Rear-view cameras have been installed at all 17 tolling points along CityLink and will soon be working to identify car traffic. But testing of motorcycle number plate recognition will continue. Ms Calvert said that once a decision was made, motorcyclists would be given four months' grace to get used to the change. "CityLink is a user-pays system and therefore it is only fair that all those who use the toll road should pay for that usage," she said. "But up until now we haven't had a system that's enabled us to toll motorbikes with the required degree of accuracy and efficiency." Mr Maggs said CityLink was breaching a verbal assurance given to motorcyclists in 2003 not to toll motorbikes for at least five years. He said the agreement was made after hundreds of motorcyclists clogged the Burnley tunnel, protesting against State Government moves to introduce front number plates. He said that more protests could follow if Transurban did not change its policy. "We'll talk if they want to negotiate but if it turns out unsatisfactory to us then we'll make sure that they know we are here," he said. The new cameras will also improve CityLink's ability to identify car drivers - allowing the road operator to consult a rear-view photograph when the front-on shot is unclear. Some drivers escape being charged because of unclear photographic evidence. The "video matching fee" charged in cases where cameras are used to charge tolls rather than e-tags will also be reviewed after the new cameras are switched on and could rise from its current level of $1.20. ---------------------------------------------------------------
for your information - there is an extensive discussion over at netrider. Summary of postings (which span 10+ pages) - some people think motorcyclists should get a free ride, when drivers must pay - some people think motorcyclists should pay, but at a reduced cost because (essentially) we're smaller - some people question the deal between MRAA and citylink (as noted in Brigette's posting) - did it actually exist, and was it truly for 5 years. No documentation is available to support any of this. It was a verbal promise (which is binding) but those present at the time have not commented on what the wording was. Some speculation that it was to the effect "citylink will not charge bikes in the near future" and no mention of exact duration. - there was an article in the age which suggests anyone using teh citylink, but not using an e-tag, will incur a $1.20 fee. E-tags can not be fitted to bikes and therefore it is an automatic fee for us. Personally - I support the protest if only to ensure that teh extra $1.20 fee is not charged. I am not convinced of what the deal was between the MRAA and citylink, so can not comment and will not accept it based on hearsay (even though I would like to). Bikes definitely should pay less than cars (and citylink suggests 50%)
yes its annoying having to pay a toll. In my jacket i have a inside pocket where i put my wallet. When i have to stop i have to unzip and unbutton my jacket and get my wallet out. It takes at least 20seconds. where as in a car you can sort the money out an leave it on the dash as you aproach and be gone in 5 sec or less. I dont live in victoria but as is my understanding CityLink is just a toll road, in queensland tolls have to be paid on a motorbike and when i travel i try to avoid these roads except for when its busy because it is an extra 1/2hr-1hr but when its not busy there is only maybe 5-15mins difference.
