-----Original Message-----
From: mccofnsw On Behalf Of Guy Stanford
Sent: Tuesday, 6 January 2009 7:39 AM
To: MCC-Delegates
Subject: [Delegates] Herald on E-Tags



http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/rta-backs-down-on-etags-for-motorcyc
list
s/2009/01/05/1231003937337.html
OR
http://tinyurl.com/9gdg4m



RTA backs down on e-tags for motorcyclists


Alex Tibbitts
January 6, 2009
Advertisement

THE Roads and Traffic Authority has all but admitted the failure of
e-tags - at least for tolling motorcyclists and scooter riders.

Motorcyclists with an RTA e-tag now do not have to carry a tag to cross
the Harbour Bridge or use the Harbour Tunnel. Instead, motorcyclists are
tolled by video of number plates and the RTA will forgo the usual 75
cents video-processing fee.

"A relatively small number of motorcyclists cross the harbour each day,
and the RTA is taking a practical and flexible approach," an RTA
spokesman said.

"However, the RTA encourages motorcyclists to travel with their tag as
they will need it when travelling on Sydney's other toll roads."

The spokesman said "the RTA has introduced this measure gradually over
the last half a decade", although it did not announce it, does not
mention it on the RTA website and it was news to the chairman of the NSW
Motorcycle Council, Guy Stanford, who has been campaigning against
e-tags on usage and safety grounds.

Some toll collectors, too, quietly allow riders with accounts to use
their roads without carrying a tag.

Riders with Roam Express accounts do not need to carry their tags to use
the Lane Cove Tunnel. The M7 has a toll account that does not require a
tag, but riders need a tag for the road that joins them, the M2
motorway.

Operators prefer riders to carry tags on the roads that still have a
cash option - M2, M4, M5 and Eastern Distributor. Riders still need to
carry e-tags on the cashless Cross City Tunnel if they do not want to
pay the casual usage charges, which can almost double the toll for a
single trip on some roads.

The RTA would not say how many infringement notices were issued to
riders whose tags, did not register at the toll gates but Mr Stanford
estimates it happens about 10 per cent of the time.

"The technology of e-tags was developed with cars for an enclosed
cabin," Mr Stanford said.

"And it simply doesn't work on motorbikes and leaves motorcyclists
exposed to additional charges and inconvenience through the paperchase,"
he said.

Sydney toll roads are the only ones in Australia that charge bikes the
same toll as cars.




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