Virginia Freedom Riders :: Freedom Forums

MissPenny · Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 5:14 pm Post subject: TOLLS - PROTEST RIDE

VCOM has put out the following two messages concerning a protest ride the first Monday in October (October 2, 2006). Call VCOM to organize this protest ride in your area - 1-800-437-9434 or 1-804-353-3971.

TOLLS - PROTEST RIDE

In the mid ‘90's, this organization realized that technology was coming to the roads and highways of Virginia. We were aware of the research being done at Virginia Tech and around the country on Smart Roads. We were also aware that in the research, motorcyclists were not being considered. We were fearful that we would be left out of future plans that relied on new technology. When we visited Virginia Tech and saw that soon Tractor Trailers would no longer have to cross a scale to be weighed, we wondered where this technology would lead.

In an effort to insure we were not excluded from the use of roads by any new technology, we lobbied for a law that would require “in formulating transportation policy, promulgating regulations, allocating funds, and planning designing, constructing, equipping, operating and maintaining transportation facilities, no action of the Commonwealth Transportation Board, the Commonwealth Transportation Commissioner, or the Virginia Department of Transportation shall in any way have the effect of discriminating against motorcycles, motorcycle operators, or motorcycle passengers, . . .” This law was enacted and went into effect on July 1, 1999. It is found in Section 33.1-13.1 of the Code of Virginia.

We motorcyclists recognize the danger of toll plazas. We understand that when we enter, we have to be extra careful because of the dirt, oil and grime, worse when it is wet. However, the Smart Tag and the EZPass, tools that would make it safer for us, are not being made for motorcycles. As we all know, bikes come in different sizes and configurations, some with windshields, some without, some with different handlebars than others, all together there are at least eleven different configurations. The Commonwealth’s answer to our request for a Smart Tag that can be used on a bike has been that the Smart Tag is available so they are not discriminating. They say that because you can purchase one you are not being discriminated against. The Commonwealth admits that it may not work for your bike. They even warn of this on their website. I say if you can’t use it as intended, then you are being discriminated against.

Because of this problem, VCOM lobbied for legislation that would allow us to go toll free. VDOT’s answer was that it would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to convert the technology at each toll plaza to allow us to go toll free. However, in response to an F.O.I. request, the cost statewide was put at around four hundred thousand. They don’t have to change any technology; they can just allow us to pass free. In fact, they already do this for certain persons.

Interestingly, Section 22.1-187 of the Code of Virginia exempts students from the payment of tolls, also, school buses are exempt.

Section 33.1-223.2:12 of the Code of Virginia gives the Commonwealth Transportation Board of the Virginia Department of Transportation the right to “vary tolls according to the time of day, day of the week, traffic volume, vehicle speed, vehicle type, or any or all of these variables.” The title of this Code Section - Tolls may vary to encourage travel during off-peak hours.

Section 33.1-252 permits toll-free use of the Dulles Toll Road during rush hour for vehicles carrying two or more persons if approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board. This section of the Code of Virginia is important in another aspect because it lists the myriad of State officials and employees who may use all toll facilities toll free while on official business.
This Code section also recognizes the disabled and provides an exemption for those with upper body mobility and dexterity impairments which substantially impair their ability to deposit coins in toll baskets. They are given a window sticker which identifies them as eligible for such free passage provided the window sticker is properly displayed.

When the General Assembly passed legislation allowing the private construction and operation of toll roads in the Commonwealth (Virginia Highway Corporation Act of 1988), Code Section 56-535, et seq., it required the operator of the private road to exempt all persons referred to in Code Section 33.1-252 subsection A.

We are not such a large group that the impact of riding toll-free would dramatically impact the revenue of the toll facility. Think about this, there are 139,000 registered motorcycles in the Commonwealth, of this number many are in areas of the state where there aren’t any toll roads. Most motorcycles are ridden when the temperature is above 70 and the sun is shining.

Do you want to eliminate this safety hazard for motorcycles? Do you want to protest this discrimination? If so, on the first Monday in October we are asking you to ride the toll road nearest you between 7:00 and 9:00 A.M. You know how long it takes to safely manage a toll. If you would like to help in organizing this effort, I ask you to contact us. We have a number of toll facilities in Richmond, Tidewater and Northern Virginia. Who will step up to help? It’s time to do something for ourselves, to take a stand for motorcycle safety and against discrimination.

EXPRESS TOLL LANES

Shortly, VDOT will begin building express toll lanes at the Powhite Parkway toll plaza in Richmond. The purpose of this project is to allow those using Smart Tags and/or EZPass to be able to go thru the Smart Tag/EZPass at 45 miles per hour; in other words, no more braking.

The cost of this project $22.1 million. They are willing to do this just for speed. This is the same VDOT that opposed motorcycles being allowed to pass through without paying a toll, even though it is a safety issue for us and would expedite traffic flow. According to an article in The Richmond Times Dispatch (June 25th), the hope of VDOT is that by building these new express lanes, they will be able to increase the number of vehicles going through the Smart Tag/EZPass lanes by 600 per hour, per lane.

Perhaps, if enough of us show up and use the toll facilities on MONDAY, OCTOBER 2ND BETWEEN 7 AND 9 A.M., they will decide it is a lot speedier if they waive motorcycles through. As a motorcyclist, you know how long it takes to stop your bike, put the kickstand down, get your money out, give it to the toll collector or put it in the basket, put the kickstand up, put it back in gear and leave. Unfortunately, the only way to bring this home to other citizens and VDOT is for enough of us to do it. Can we count on you?

VIRGINIA COALITION OF MOTORCYCLISTS
1-800-437-9434
1-804-353-3971
_________________
Penny Adams
Virginia Freedom Riders - Legislative Officer

"Government is too big and too important to be left to the politicians."
Chester Bowles (1901 - 1986)

douglas · Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 1:09 pm Post subject: Find a Toll Plaza

Find a Toll Plaza

Here's a link to the VDOT page showing all toll plazas in Virginia.

http://www.virginiadot.org/comtravel/faq-toll.asp
_________________
Douglas

www.DONORCYCLES.com
Libertarian Party (www.lp.org)
Marijuana Policy Project (www.mpp.org)
Free State Project (www.freestateproject.org)
Virginia Citizens Defense League (www.vcdl.org)
ABATEofVA, VFR-RACE, VCOM, NCOM, AIM

OldSkoolYZF · Joined: 04 Jul 2007 Posts: 2 Location: Richmond, VA

your information has been very helpful. I am glad to have found this site and will support in anyway I can. This discussion started on one of the bike forums I'm a member of and I have cited alot of info from here.

The key is getting the info out there. All bikers hate this and know its a problem but they assume there is nothing they can do to change it.

Hope you guys don't mind I'm spreading the word.

OldSkoolYZF · Joined: 04 Jul 2007 Posts: 2 Location: Richmond, VA

here's a link to the discussion on our forum that started as a simple EZ-PASS location thread....

http://www.yzf600r.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=37558&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
_________________

http://www.oldskoolyzf.com/forum/phpBB2

hawgske · Rider Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 18

Anyone interested in joining a toll booth ride in Richmond is welcome to join us on Friday, Aug. 31. We'll meet at the western most end of Laburnum Av., next to the ACCA Train Yard, around 3:30pm.
Bring 50 pennies and one large bill ($20 or more). Make sure your bike is legal and road worthy. Be sober and alert, one mistake and we've wasted our time.
We'll take the Laburnum Av. ramp onto I-195 South and proceed to the big toll booth area just south of the James River.

Kick stands up at 4pm!!!
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