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Motorcycle laws for toll booths/bridges?

G

gt3x24x7

New member
Joined
Nov 16, 2015
Location
Bay
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CBR
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AMA #3278988
Hello LEO forum,

As a new rider who is becoming familiar with everything related to riding on a daily basis, there is one question that I am curious to receive clarification on. Tolls booths and tolls in general for motorcycles. I've heard of Fast trak but do not use it, as I usually take BART whenever I am directed to travel throughout the Bay Area to other Nordstrom stores as part of my job. The big Nordstrom on Market Street in SF I take BART for and such.

I want to start riding my bike and commuting with it for longer distance travel for work since my "home store" is nearby in Walnut Creek.

-Is there a fast trak for motorcycles?
-What is the official law and LEO interpretation of aforementioned law?
-Do I need to wait in the "lines" at toll booths like driving a car and paying cash?
-Anything to lookout for as a new rider in terms of first time toll and major bridge riding?

Thanks! :ride
 
It works exactly like a car. If you have a fastrak transponder/account you can go through the fastrak lanes. Otherwise you have to wait in line to pay cash. You're supposed to carry the transponder with you, but having the license plate registered to your account should be enough.
 
Get a fast trak FLEX version of the transponder that has the switch snd keep it switched to 2 or 3 that way fastrak eill recognize you as a carpool and charge you accordingly.
 
tfkrocks said:
It works exactly like a car. If you have a fastrak transponder/account you can go through the fastrak lanes. Otherwise you have to wait in line to pay cash. You're supposed to carry the transponder with you, but having the license plate registered to your account should be enough.
Click to expand...

I don't need to physically carry the transponder with me while riding?

motomania2007 said:
Get a fast trak FLEX version of the transponder that has the switch snd keep it switched to 2 or 3 that way fastrak eill recognize you as a carpool and charge you accordingly.
Click to expand...

George, long time no see! Hope you're doing well and good to see you again on the forums! Is there any specific laws or rules on where to keep the transponder while on a bike? I have pockets on my riding jacket I can carry it in. Along with my commuter backpack that's strapped around my shoulders+waste.

Update: registered and opened a fastrak account. Selected a transponder and have the standard fund required transferred into it. Will I be shipped a physical fastrak transponder? Or am I good to go with just having added my bike's info to my account for tolls and camera reading my license plate? Mainly going to SF, Treasure Island for Moto Guild and such.
 
Last edited:
Legally you should carry the transponder but many people are fine with just having the license plate registered to their account. Your call.
 
tfkrocks said:
Legally you should carry the transponder but many people are fine with just having the license plate registered to their account. Your call.
Click to expand...

Gotcha. I opened a fastrak account and selected the standard/general transponder that works for all 8 toll locations. Will they ship me the transponder to my mailing address? ::ride
 
Remember to use the carpool lanes when crossing the bridge, when you're within carpool
Hours. Cuts your toll down to $2.50.

I've commuted over the bridge everyday for 4 years and have never carried the transponder.

Crossijg the bay bridge with cash is a death wish. No way I'd wait in those long lines with crazy people surrounding me in every direction.
 
gt3x24x7 said:
I don't need to physically carry the transponder with me while riding?



George, long time no see! Hope you're doing well and good to see you again on the forums! Is there any specific laws or rules on where to keep the transponder while on a bike? I have pockets on my riding jacket I can carry it in. Along with my commuter backpack that's strapped around my shoulders+waste.

Update: registered and opened a fastrak account. Selected a transponder and have the standard fund required transferred into it. Will I be shipped a physical fastrak transponder? Or am I good to go with just having added my bike's info to my account for tolls and camera reading my license plate? Mainly going to SF, Treasure Island for Moto Guild and such.
Click to expand...

You can cary the transponder anywhere on your person or on the bike. I carry mine in the pocket of my aerostich riding suit or jacket pocket if I am not wearing my stich.
 
motomania2007 said:
Get a fast trak FLEX version of the transponder that has the switch snd keep it switched to 2 or 3 that way fastrak eill recognize you as a carpool and charge you accordingly.
Click to expand...
The FasTrak Flex instructions say motorcycles should always be switched to 3.

I just got three of them, one for each car and one for whichever motorcycle I'm riding. I have yet to go through any toll areas with one, but at least I'm ready.

I ordered mine online. I tried to get one at Walgreen's or Safeway, but they had been out for weeks and couldn't tell me when they would have more of them. You pay $25.00 to charge it up and they send the device to you. You can get up to three of them before they charge you a "deposit" of $20. So there is $75.00 in my account for the three devices right now. Should be good for a year or two at the rate I go through toll booths. :cool
 
ScottRNelson said:
The FasTrak Flex instructions say motorcycles should always be switched to 3.

I just got three of them, one for each car and one for whichever motorcycle I'm riding. I have yet to go through any toll areas with one, but at least I'm ready.

I ordered mine online. I tried to get one at Walgreen's or Safeway, but they had been out for weeks and couldn't tell me when they would have more of them. You pay $25.00 to charge it up and they send the device to you. You can get up to three of them before they charge you a "deposit" of $20. So there is $75.00 in my account for the three devices right now. Should be good for a year or two at the rate I go through toll booths. :cool
Click to expand...

The $25 is the deposit I thought...? So if I lose my transponder there's no deposit? I have two, the original, which is lost at my dads house and I recently got the new three way transponder.
 
Gt3x24x7, if for any reason you ever find yourself going through a toll booth in the future please remember all the cars that stop to pay toll drop a bit of oil or coolant. It's greasy / slippery and really easy to pitch your bike sideways.
 
Gawernator said:
The $25 is the deposit I thought...? So if I lose my transponder there's no deposit? I have two, the original, which is lost at my dads house and I recently got the new three way transponder.
Click to expand...
If you lose one, you own them the $20. The $25 is payment into the account.
 
i am glad i do not have to pay a added tax to use the roadways i have already paid a tax for.
it has been two, three.. more years since i have had to cross a illegal tax bridge.
and with luck will be decades more before i am forced to go back to the bay area.
and now there are illegal tax roadways.

if we pay taxes in so many ways for the roads there should be NO other tax to use the roads or bridges.
what's next?
a tax for every mile you drive/ride?
a tax for the size of your motor?
a tax for comfort equipment in your cage?
a tax to park your cage, (o wait there already is),
a tax for parking at home. (again there already is in some city's).


i am a bay area refuge and glad to be living in a part of (still ca) where the roads are great for motos and lots of non-"roads" for other moto rides.
could never get used to all that traffic in the bay area.
even now just going down to a city in the valley is a pain, all the traffic and the signal lights.
from my front door i can do a 300-400 mile ride and not see one signal light, cross 4 counties, two states, three mt passes. (500 ft up to almost 9K feet).
and less cages then just going to stockton.
 
seadog said:
Gt3x24x7, if for any reason you ever find yourself going through a toll booth in the future please remember all the cars that stop to pay toll drop a bit of oil or coolant. It's greasy / slippery and really easy to pitch your bike sideways.
Click to expand...

Also keep in mind, there's always some idiot in the Fastrak Express lane who realizes at the last possible second that they're in the Express lane (despite signs and lane markings for a mile in advance) and slams on the brakes to try to merge into the cash lane. If you're not careful, you could rear-end one.
 
I seldom take the GG Bridge southbound on my motorcycle.
Last summer for the first time in years I was southbound on 101 towards GG Bridge late at night and at the Spencer Drive hill there was an illuminated sign saying "Motorcycles, FasTrak or cash only"
So I had no FasTrak, it stays in my car and NO CASH (credit cards yes). I had to think fast: to carry on and try to sort it out at the tool booth on the far side of the bridge, or turn around, cross the Richmond bridge and drive 880 all the way back to Los Gatos?
I took the Richmond Bridge route and fumed the entire way. Believe me, riding a motorcycle southbound on 880 late on a Sat night is terrifying!
Was that crazy sign just temporary? Do I need cash next time?
Whassup?
 
FizzrGeezr said:
I seldom take the GG Bridge southbound on my motorcycle.
Last summer for the first time in years I was southbound on 101 towards GG Bridge late at night and at the Spencer Drive hill there was an illuminated sign saying "Motorcycles, FasTrak or cash only"
So I had no FasTrak, it stays in my car and NO CASH (credit cards yes). I had to think fast: to carry on and try to sort it out at the tool booth on the far side of the bridge, or turn around, cross the Richmond bridge and drive 880 all the way back to Los Gatos?
I took the Richmond Bridge route and fumed the entire way. Believe me, riding a motorcycle southbound on 880 late on a Sat night is terrifying!
Was that crazy sign just temporary? Do I need cash next time?
Whassup?
Click to expand...

You cannot use cash on the GGB at any time. This applies to all vehicles.
 
Enchanter said:
You cannot use cash on the GGB at any time. This applies to all vehicles.
Click to expand...
The last time I went through there in the "pay toll" direction, I was in a panic about not being able to pay the toll and not having a FasTrak. They sent me a bill in the mail for the correct toll, which we paid without issue.

I have since gotten a FasTrak Flex for the once a month or so that I cross a toll bridge.
 
ScottRNelson said:
The last time I went through there in the "pay toll" direction, I was in a panic about not being able to pay the toll and not having a FasTrak. They sent me a bill in the mail for the correct toll, which we paid without issue.

I have since gotten a FasTrak Flex for the once a month or so that I cross a toll bridge.
Click to expand...

Were you on your bike? I was wondering if the illuminated sign mentioned above was because they were having trouble reading bike license plates.

I've driven cars through there several times over the last couple of years and got the bill in the mail each time as you did. I don't do the journey enough to justify FasTrak at the moment.
 
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