[SYDNEY] PROTEST RIDE: Mourning the Toll [Sun 26/06]

[taxsux]

From: Guy Stanford
Subject: [Mcc-delegates] Mourning the Toll
To: MCC-Delegates

PROTEST RIDE

MCC of NSW member clubs agreement last night.

"MOURNING THE TOLL"

June 26, 10 am, Hickson Road, The Rocks.
Bring toll money - a note.

This is a slow ride, a funeral procession, Mourning our Toll.
Wear an armband. Low level public inconvenience. Very High profile.

The purpose is to provide images for TV and ramp up the importance.
Toll issues will be won or lost in the press.
Make pollies worry about "what if we changed the time or the target?"

A show of strength. Be there. More detail as the Planners release it.
Club Reps, please advise John on committment numbers from your club.
strikeservices@bigpond.com


+---------------------------------------------+
| A FAIR GO FOR MOTORCYCLES |
| A TAG THAT WORKS & A TOLL THAT'S FAIR |
+---------------------------------------------+



Riders are happy to pay a toll
As long as the rate is fair
As long as we are not disadvantaged with fees or inappropriate technology or
forced to compromise safety.


CB equipped bikes needed.
Pillions with video cameras.
Pillions for sticker and pamphlet handouts
All over by 12:30
Media support from MCC of NSW


I'm really slow at paying a toll. Just can't get the hang of it. I get clumsy and drop my gloves and sometimes can't find the money in my pocket and have to get off to get into the bottom of the pocket in my Draggins' or else I flick all the coins out of my pocket accidentally and then my bike doesn't re-start sometimes. I take around 1 minute and ten seconds and I wonder how anyone else could do it faster than that. And then, if anyone is shouting at me or a uniformed authority figure is standing near me, I get really nervous and forgetful and it all takes longer, 'cos I forget that my wallet is under the seat and look in the wrong place or take my helmet off to hear what they have to say and sometimes I have put my gloves on and forgotten to do up my helmet and then find my wallet is still in my hand and it should be in the top box.............

Currently 43+ Bikes from ORS attending. :)

[kazjim]

"I'm really slow at paying a toll. Just can't get the hang of it. "

Am I the only one with a Blob of Blu-Tak on my tank and two coins pushed into it ?

Takes me all of 5 seconds to stop the bike, grabe the coins and hand over to toll dude .....

My Aplogies... I cant make it ......
J

[Kaer]

Takes me all of 5 seconds to stop the bike, grabe the coins and hand over to toll dude .....


The Cross City Tunnel does not allow you to pay by cash. You must have an etag. You must also have a CCT beep tag, as they won't accept others for mbikes. You must be wearing an armband and it must work.

If it fails, you get hit with a $1.60 admin fee. It doesn't matter that the arm band hasn't been designed or approved for safe use with a motorcycle, or the the fact the beep tag isn't water proof.

Tough luck, you get hit for the processing cost because CCT can't provide a safe and working solution for motorcyclists.

[Mouth]

http://www.netrider.net.au/calendar/?action=add :wink:

[Kaer]

Just some more information from the MCC

http://www.mccofnsw.org.au/a/31.html

http://www.mccofnsw.org.au/cgi-bin/user.pl?download_file=1&file=77

[josh909]

just heard that the forecast for the next 24 hours is showers clearing :D

[nobby]

with you in spirit guys........don't forget your wet weather gear.

[shabby]

Am I the only one with a Blob of Blu-Tak on my tank and two coins pushed into it ?




blu tak on the tank.........you may not like your bike that much but the rest of us have a tad more respect for our machines!

[josh909]

woo hoo :D excellent way to spend a sunday morning...

there was a rather good turnout, especially when one considers the weather - i'd say approx 400 bikes (though i'm sure official figures will vary).

looked to be good media coverage - my only suggestion would be for the organisers to use megaphones next time - it's a bit hard to hear the briefings with bikes going past :lol:

great to put some faces to names as well - kaer and lana, flashfire and jordan and chris :)

will have to wait and watch the news tonight but overall for an initial protest, i think it went well.

[scooter]

Am I the only one with a Blob of Blu-Tak on my tank and two coins pushed into it ?




blu tak on the tank.........you may not like your bike that much but the rest of us have a tad more respect for our machines!

Respect, surely you jest?

Bluetack today, softdrink crate occy strapped to the ducktail tomorrow. :lol:

[josh909]

taken from today's SMH:

from today's SMH:

Tagless tunnel goes into reverse
By Alexandra Smith and Anne Davies
October 14, 2005

Motorists will no longer be penalised for using the Cross City Tunnel without an electronic tag, ruining the Government's long-held plans to have every Sydney motorist using the tags.

The tunnel will be free for three weeks from October 24, in a desperate bid to entice motorists, especially those from the eastern suburbs, to use it.

The tunnel operators yesterday bowed to public pressure and dumped the $1.60 administration fee charged to motorists who do not have an e-tag, allowing occasional users to pay at the same rate as those with tags.

But the Government was still not content. The Premier, Morris Iemma, said it was a "step in the right direction" but there was "further room for improvement".

There will be a freeze on all toll increases until July 1 next year and the one-off $3.30 registration fee for motorists without e-tags has also been removed.

The Lane Cove Tunnel Company has not determined the penalty it will impose on motorists without e-tags when it opens but a spokeswoman, Susan Allton, said the company was monitoring the Cross City Tunnel experience.

The concessions come after six weeks of outrage from motorists who have been reluctant to pay the high toll charges and have been inconvenienced by road changes in the city.

The chief executive of CrossCity Motorway, Peter Sansom, ruled out reversing any road changes, which were in the company's contract with the Government.

"We in good faith signed a contract with the Government and we are delivering on it," Mr Sansom said. "CrossCity Motorway's style is to co-operate with the Government, the RTA and the broader community."

The NRMA applauded the changes to administration fees and charges. A director, Rob Hugh, said they were a "major victory for motorists".

"Toll-free periods and cutting fees and charges are a good first step, but until the Cross City operators reverse their draconian road changes they will continue to draw fire from motorists," Mr Hugh said. "It is a positive sign that the Cross City Tunnel operators are prepared to listen."

The Roads Minister, Joe Tripodi, questioned the company's traffic predictions and suggested the Roads and Traffic Authority's estimates were "more conservative".

"The motorway company had very bullish expectations about the traffic volumes," he said.

However, the summary of contracts, published on the NSW Treasury website, itself suggests the tunnel would be used by 100,000 cars a day by 2016.

FREEWAY AHEAD

- Tunnel free for three weeks from October 24.

- No toll increase until July 1 next year.

- Removal of $1.60 penalty for not having an e-tag.

- No one-off $3.30 registration fee for motorists without an e-tag.




interesting... ;)