HOV FasTrak lanes

[cg_ops]

It isn't. It never has been and I'm certainly not the only motorcyclist that has never been charged for using it. I use all of the Express Lanes on a motorcycle all the time. You're never going to be charged as the state is required to make those lanes free for motorcycle use in order to receive federal highway funds. They're absolutely not going to jeopardize that over whether or not a motorcyclist was carrying a transponder.

I don't mean to imply you're lying/wrong, it's just odd that if that's the case, I wonder why they went through the trouble to split the motorcycle-specific FAQ into "required" and "not required" like that.

 

[MikeL]

Isn't the simplest reasoning they may say this is because if you're carrying a hybrid transponder and you DON'T have it set to 3, you will be billed as the system just bills off of transponder settings.

They are not saying 'it's law to have a transponder' they are saying if you're traveling in that lane, have a transponder, and don't want to be billed - make sure it's set to 3.

When it says this:

A FasTrak Flex toll tag is required for motorcycles to travel toll free in these express lanes.

It's implying if you have a REGULAR FastTrak toll tag you will be billed a normal amount.

 

[ejv]

Just to make things clearer, i'm commuting from Napa to SF for appointments (taking both Golden Gate and Bay Bridge depending on where I need to go), I don't need any type of fastrak transponder?

Also, I will not get charged any fees on a motorcycle? Do I have to ride in the Express lane/HOV lane in order to avoid fees? Do I need to make an account and register my plates?

Sorry, just a bit confused with the whole thing. I'd love to avoid having to pay fees though. Thanks.

Bridges are different. During specific hours and while using the carpool lane a motorcycle can get the carpool rate. 1/2 on bay bridge. $6.05 on GG bridge.

 

[tgrrdr]

Bump.

Can someone with expertise clear this up?

Sometimes you see a sign that says “motorcycles ok”. Sometimes not.

The "motorcycles ok" signs became obsolete many years ago. Whenever there is work in an area the old signs should be removed and not replaced. If there are still some around they will be removed eventually.

The last reference I could find related to restricting motorcycles in HOV lanes was in 2003.

Here's the US code in case you are interested.

23 U.S. Code § 102 - Program efficiencies

(a)Access of Motorcycles.—
No State or political subdivision of a State may enact or enforce a law that applies only to motorcycles and the principal purpose of which is to restrict the access of motorcycles to any highway or portion of a highway for which Federal-aid highway funds have been utilized for planning, design, construction, or maintenance. Nothing in this subsection shall affect the authority of a State or political subdivision of a State to regulate motorcycles for safety.

 

[Kornholio]

I don't mean to imply you're lying/wrong, it's just odd that if that's the case, I wonder why they went through the trouble to split the motorcycle-specific FAQ into "required" and "not required" like that.

All, yes ALL, transactions have photographic evidence that, according to what I've seen, experienced and even had FasTrak employees tell me directly (I deal with their HQ a lot in my line of work) is reviewed at at least a cursory level before a citation is issued. Upon any cursory review, a human will note that it was a motorcycle on the view and a computer trained to read the plate information will be able to identify from the DMV database that the plate belongs to a motorcycle. There's no need for them to dig any deeper. If it's a motorcycle, it's allowed to ride in the lane for free.