Toll booths on a moto

[isuace]

I'll probably get chewed up and spit out for this thread, but here goes....

I am riding from Colorado Springs to Longmont/Boulder on Sunday, and I would prefer not to go through the heart of Denver, so I plan on taking 470 around Denver. Trouble is, 470 is a toll road and i don't have one of those fancy EZ-pass type dealies so I will have to stop and do the cash thing. I don't have a tank bag, so I am not sure what would be the best way to organize my dollar-dollar-bills-y'all to give to the attendants.

Anybody have any experience/ideas(good ones)/advice for me?

 

[squeezer]

The sad truth is that when I don't ride with my EZ Pass, I put money in my tank bag.

I've heard of guys who stick bills on the palm of their hands and pull the gloves on over them. I think you'll just have to figure out which pocket is easiest to get to while you hold up the bike.

Best tip is to not worry about the dough while you're pulling up to the booth. Worry about the road and where you'll put your feet down. Cages tend to drop oil and water (air conditioner condensation) when they stop at those things and it can be slick as goose snot. Pay attention, get yourself planted, and then worry about dragging out your dough. The cage behind you may have to wait a bit longer than normal. If that's the worst part of his day, he's a lucky man.

 

[cadman]

I haven't ridden on too many toll roads.

When I travel across the bridge to Pensacola Beach, i keep a dollar folded in the velcro closer of my left glove.

When i get to the booth the person i stick my hand to, pulls the cash.

Squeezer, who tested the slicker than goose snot theory??

I got a good laugh out of that, thanks!

cadman

 

[donaldb]

I'll probably get chewed up and spit out for this thread, but here goes....I am riding from Colorado Springs to Longmont/Boulder on Sunday, and I would prefer not to go through the heart of Denver, so I plan on taking 470 around Denver. Trouble is, 470 is a toll road and i don't have one of those fancy EZ-pass type dealies so I will have to stop and do the cash thing. I don't have a tank bag, so I am not sure what would be the best way to organize my dollar-dollar-bills-y'all to give to the attendants.

Anybody have any experience/ideas(good ones)/advice for me?

Actually thanks for posting this. I've been wondering the same thing.

There are no toll roads here in MS and I know on my return from NAFO I'll be on the KTP for quite some distance. I like the idea of folding up a buck or 2 in the glove velcro thing, I may try that..sounds like a convenient method.

 

[NightShine]

Anybody have any experience/ideas(good ones)/advice for me?

Come to a full and safe stop, then open your otherwise mostly useless glove box where you had the foresight to stuff bills for the toll trolls.

 

[isuace]

Come to a full and save stop, then open your otherwise mostly useless glove box where you had the foresight to stuff bills for the toll trolls.

No glove box for me, Im still riding a shadow

I may look for a cheap tank bag this weekend, 470 has about 130 toll booths (approximately) skirting Denver. I don't think I can fit that much cash in my glove

 

[mmonroe]

Tankbag.. They are wonderful..

They work good for fast food places and having a place to put your lunch, ATM's, etc.

Mark

 

[Silent]

I use a spring paper clip on the clutch side to hold my bills. Pull up, hit neutral, and hand over the bills. Clean and fast.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

Some good advice about paying attention to a good safe stop -- first. Sometimes, I just need to stop the bike and get out my wallet and whatever time it takes -- it takes (sorry, other road users).

BTW, the new Yamaha (Euro) tank bag (probably un-available here?) has two rubber coin-holders on-top, just aft of the map-pocket.

Toll-road anecdote: while riding with a group of like-minded riders; riders search for 'exact change' when approaching and when someone has it he raises his arm. They all, then, funnel into his lane. He throws the coin/s and when the cross-arm raises -- they all blast thru at once.

Moto-efficiency....

 

[JRO]

You're supposed to stop and pay the attendant, at a toll booth. However, if it's an automated toll booth, you can ride around the alarm. These things are usually a metal strip installed in the pavement, past the toll stop. It's supposed to set the alarm off, if you drive through without paying. Only geeks actually pay, at these things. Just pull up to the toll machine, look for any loose change lying around ( you can nearly always find some, which you may then use at an attended toll booth ), and then idle off, avoiding the alarm.

In days past, bikes paid less than cars. Not so today, on any toll road I've seen. This pisses me off, so I'm proud not to pay the toll machines.

There are spring clips with magnets on the things. I suppose you could clip a few bills, and stick the thing on your tank.

 

[Bungie]

On a related note, at the start of June my brother and I rode HWY 407 (toll road) to skirt around Toronto. This hwy uses photo's of your license plates and they mail you your bill. I got mine, $31 bucks or some such. My brother who rode 50 feet in front of me, in the other lane track, got his bill... $11.

Apparently theirs something about the stock license mount on a VStar 1100 that those photo license plate dealies have a hard time with.

Piss me off.

 

[Checkswrecks]

I've tried putting money in a glove and paperclips, but after losing enough of it have come down to this:

I put a few singles in my jacket chest pocket and coins in the jacket's hip pocket. When I'm geting to a booth I press one glove between the base of the windshield and fairing, so I can use that hand to dig out what I need. I put the glove back on before leaving the booth while waiting for the attendant or green light.

BTW, +1 on being careful of the slippery footing. I'm also nervous as can be till I get a couple of cars behind me. Nothing like having some sleepy moron drive thru while I'm sitting there.

 

[teerex51]

I wear one of those high-visibility vests made by Icon on top of whatever jacket I've got on. It's got an ID pocket on a side (where I stow a credit card) and a zippered pouch on the other, where I cram a few Euro bills. That's it: I'm ready for whatever toll plaza wants my dough.

And yes, I'll agree with Squeezer 100%.

Watch your step as you roll to a halt. Your wheels might end up in a pool of old motor oil lying there or slip on some condensation that dripped from an A/C. Plus, when you put your foot down there's no telling what sh*t you'll be landing on. If you overbalance there and drop your ride it's often catastrophic: there's all kinds of hard and sharp edges ready to wreck expensive parts.

You might think they'd occasionally clean the road surface there. When a bike pays as much as a 12-cylinder Merc to ride on a toll road you ask yourself this question. Sometimes, when I was young and reckless (last year ) I'd put a square of black tape on a part of my license plate and ride through an E-Z pass gate in the wake of a semi. They'd take a pic of my rear end, no doubt, but it would be almost useless.

F*** them, put a Cray mainframe to work, figure out my full license # and earn your money, you vultures... :angry03:

Mmmhh..I feel better now

Stef

 

[uctofeej]

No glove box for me, Im still riding a shadow
I may look for a cheap tank bag this weekend, 470 has about 130 toll booths (approximately) skirting Denver. I don't think I can fit that much cash in my glove

Wally World has a $20 Bell tank bag in the motorcycle section... Only about half the Wal-marts have a moto section, tho....

 

[Low Level FJR Pilot]

I use a spring paper clip on the clutch side to hold my bills. Pull up, hit neutral, and hand over the bills. Clean and fast.

:dribble: Theres a clutch? :dribble: Oh, once again, I have the AE.

How about in your left front inside jacket pocket?

 

[flying junior]

When I remember to do it, I roll up the exact toll and stuff it in the palm side of my right glove, with enough sticking out to get hold of with my gloved left hand. I still have to come to a complete stop and put 'er in neutral to complete the transaction, but it's pretty efficient.

Of course, when I don't remember, then I have to take off my gloves to fish in my wallet. No matter -- I won't be rushed. Those toll lanes are slicker'n you-know-what. No. 1 is to come to a safe stop in that slime-a-rama.

 

[Bounce]

If you're going to do a lot of tolls over a short time (not long enough to justify an ez pass), then take a stack fo 1s to Kinkos and have them glue one short edge together like a stack of PostIts. then put your stack of 1s in the tank bag, peel off as many as you need, toss the change back in the tank bag and go.

Simple and easy.

 

[ShawnKing]

Best tip is to not worry about the dough while you're pulling up to the booth. Worry about the road and where you'll put your feet down. Cages tend to drop oil and water (air conditioner condensation) when they stop at those things and it can be slick as goose snot. Pay attention, get yourself planted, and then worry about dragging out your dough. The cage behind you may have to wait a bit longer than normal. If that's the worst part of his day, he's a lucky man.

Best advice ever. Do not get stressed out by the guy behind you. Make sure *you* are safe and stable above and beyond anything else. Roll up slow to the toll gate to see how nasty that section is and plan your stop accordingly.

 

[artistonFJR]

Here is an easy way to have $ at hand... take a hundred singles (like you would if you were headed to the strip club) and go to Kinkos and ask them to "pad" them on the long end, with a cardboard backing... this is essentially making a "note pad" of your cash... tuck it in your pocket and when you need it pull out and literally peel off a couple bills. It works great. they can pad as much as you want. I had 200 singles done once. I actually will be giving my daughter her allowance this way because it is fun/funny.

C