What makes motorcylists think that they should travel toll free on the Eastlink Freeway Melb Australia?

Question

When I drive my car on it I will have to pay, why shouldn't they? Its the user pay system, you want to use it... no matter what you drive, YOU PAY for the service, just like me.

Answer 1

How about no one should pay. That's what bloody taxes are for!

Maybe you should get a motorcycle then.

Answer 2

Just wondering why this question is in UK and Ireland section ?

Answer 3

Australia is made of sandstone and clay (Eastern Australia). This is called a substrate. It's like the foundations of your house.

In Europe there is a lot of granite (substrate) which is very, very hard and doesn't make many potholes, the roads last much longer. In Oz as soon as it rains heavily, the rain seeps into the substrate and makes the substrate (the ground under the road) soft. So, heavy vehicles crack the road and let more rain in and then there are more potholes. A pothole lets in more rain (water) under the road, then a heavy vehicle goes over that part of the road and causes more damage.

Motorcycles weigh very little compared to other traffic and therefore do very little damage to the road surface.

Answer 4

We don't say that motorcyclists shouldn't pay tolls in Mebourne. We say motorcyclists shouldn't pay tolls anywhere. I have a supercharged luxury sedan and a motorcycle. In Victoria, I pay more to register my motorcycle than I do for the car. All motorcyclists here pay a $50.00 "safety levy" which is ADDED to the registration, Apparently our safety levy is going to be used to buy 10 police motorcycles. That's a bit like the fish paying for the fishing tackle. Motorcycles were specifically excluded as a form of transport in the last census.

We are ust simply sick of being screwed by the authourities. Instead of criticising, may be you should ask why we are driven to  to taking such measures as the protest.