FAST Trak lanes and motorcycles

[mud]

If your going to post a link supporting your point make sure you read it in its entirety. Please note...blah blah blah

If you're going to correct someone, make sure you understand their post first. The first setence is only a link to the GGB FAQ page related to motorcycles, HOV, and FasTrak lanes, posted so that people could read actual facts instead of conjecture.

The second quote is from 511 and related to the other state-owned bridges (the GGB is privately controlled).

Please note: I didn't make any specific statements about the GGB.

 

[m83eric]

Ok, so I have now received 2 violations in the mail. Both for using the FAST Trak lanes during commute hours while RIDING A MOTORCYCLE.

WHAT THE FUCK?!?!?

That's $110 I really shouldn't be paying since motorcycles don't pay toll during commute hours.

So let me get cleared up on this... do you have FasTrak account? I hope you have an account with them (in which case you'll have perfect valid case to contest the violation notices).

However, if you do NOT have an account with FasTrak, I don't think you have a very good case. The fact that motorcycles cross the bridges for free during commute hours does NOT constitute your "rights" to use FasTrak lane without an account.

 

[Oneway]

I cross the GGB every day. Carpool hours are 5-9am and 4-6pm. You have to go through the toll lane and the Collector pushes a button for your free ride. Unlike the Bay Bridge you can't use the Fast Track line or you get a ticket!!!

You can stop by at the GGB office in Mill Valley, right off 101, to clear things up.

 

[Sarkoon]

I understand how the whole FastTrak / carpool thing works, but...

Isn't carpooling and motorcycling supposed to benifit bridge traffic and make things move more smoothly through the toll plaza? If every carpool in a cage and every motorcycle has to stop in non-fasttrak lanes in order to see the benifits of carpooling, then what the hell is the advantage? It will just create even more stopped traffic when people attempt to carpool.

Rediculousness. They need to automatically identify carpools and motorcycles in the fasttrak lanes.

-Tom

 

[Meterpig]

So, will you get a ticket if you use one of these?

http://www.vfxkits.com/pr_pivot.html

 

[Max Smiley]

yes it's stupid out there.

so there's more than one Fastrack "company" now? still the same rates charged though?

I got nailed once BB w/transponder via photo / plate lookup and simply added the bike to the account. I better update it again though, all different now. I accidentally ran the GGB w/o transponder but never got a letter. guess the photo didn't come out for some reason

did you know all the airport parking lots record your plates too? whether by camera at the entrance and booths or by physical inspection. patriot act in full effect.

 

[Dragon]

How about suggesting to Caltrans a "thin" motorcyle only lane the next time they re-stripe for the FasTrack lanes???? Then let moto's thru a "thin" gate... (it would cost trillions of dollars but would make people happy...)

 

[mud]

I believe (don't shit down my throat for it!) the reason for there being two FasTrak "companies" is again due to the fact that the GGB is not state-owned (different toll schedule also, although we're slowly catching up with the GGB this summer!). Once the extra $1 kicks in on the state-owned bridges, FasTrak users will be giving a $1 reprieve for several months (until the fall I believe)

You DO apparently get a $1 discount on the GGB for using FasTrak, unless you get in the wrong lane, then it's a $105 mark-up!

I'm all for the addition of a motorcycle-only gate, but the question is how wide to make it! Some of those Goldwings are pretty fucking huge.

yes it's stupid out there.

so there's more than one Fastrack "company" now? still the same rates charged though?

I got nailed once BB w/transponder via photo / plate lookup and simply added the bike to the account. I better update it again though, all different now. I accidentally ran the GGB w/o transponder but never got a letter. guess the photo didn't come out for some reason

did you know all the airport parking lots record your plates too? whether by camera at the entrance and booths or by physical inspection. patriot act in full effect.

 

[Xenophonii]

Re: Re: FAST Trak lanes and motorcycles

So let me get cleared up on this... do you have FasTrak account? I hope you have an account with them (in which case you'll have perfect valid case to contest the violation notices).

However, if you do NOT have an account with FasTrak, I don't think you have a very good case. The fact that motorcycles cross the bridges for free during commute hours does NOT constitute your "rights" to use FasTrak lane without an account.

a) I'm not talking about "rights". I don't think I'm anymore or less entitled than anyone else. It isn't a "right" to cross the bridge. Save the high school semantics for others. I admit I used logic, to quote saskoon:

"Isn't carpooling and motorcycling supposed to benifit bridge traffic and make things move more smoothly through the toll plaza? If every carpool in a cage and every motorcycle has to stop in non-fasttrak lanes in order to see the benifits of carpooling, then what the hell is the advantage? It will just create even more stopped traffic when people attempt to carpool. "

Hence, I thought that there was no harm in using that lane during commute hours because: a) I was helping the flow of traffic by not being in the que b) using an economical and efficient vehicle to commute with.

b) $50 is excessive on a $5 toll. Given the salary and cost of paper/electrons, either we're paying someone a huge salary, paying a private company a hefty sum and having the local government collect or it takes way too many man-hours to process each license.

c) The only information for FastTrak is on the web. Not accessable while riding.

So yeah, I was "wrong" in the strict definition of the rules. I'm arguing the excessive fee and illogical rules, not my "guilt".

 

[NoGall]

Adam, you are going to pop a vein soon Just give them a call... I am sure someone on the other end would have enough compassion to write the admin. fees off as a "newb" mistake.