Stretching across seems the only answer to that - just watch out for the gearstick 
Reverse it into the peage .
MasterDabber
Registered user
Now why didn't I think of that! Handbrake 180 coming into the queue, accelerate out another 180 on the way out. Brilliant.Kev's telescopic arm... that's a thought.
The gearshift thing is one I thought about... I can imagine reaching across, knocking it into gear and removing the barrier. ooops.
I managed to form a queue at the Reims peage. I took my ticket to enter the motorway but the barrier stayed down.have been given loads of verbal, no doubt my parentage would have been questioned and the car horns would have been sounding.
This has happened to me and nine bikes in a queue at an unmanned entry toll. Had to speak to a very helpful lady via the Help squark button. "Huit motos, madame, aiddez moi. N'oubliez pas Waterloo, Alleez la France!" seems to work.
Happens on some of the smaller, unmanned, toll points too. A good example is the exit toll at St. Omer. I think there is a weight sensor in the run up to the barrier. Despite a GS (and Tosser physique) it's not enough to set it off.
I think it's more likely to be an induction loop in the road, like we have at traffic lights.
Sometimes I've waited at traffic lights that have have not sensed my presence. I guess the GS does not have enough steel close to the ground to trigger the sensor. There was a particularly annoying one at the North Road/Colum Road junction in Cardiff. The lights only change to red on North Road if the Colum Road sensor is triggered. My GS would never trigger it. I found a way though: the junction is set up for bicycles to cross North Road into Bute Park. So, I just went into bicycle mode (that's what it says on the tax disc after all) and rode onto the pavement. Press the button on the ped/bike crossing. Hey presto, traffic on North Road stops and I ride out onto North Road...
That would make more sense. Could never see how the weight thing might work. It was fun jumping up and down though.
(RIP) petcul
Registered user
Yes I agree, Peter.
Eventually people will get so pissed off waiting for bikes that one day they will be are allowed free
Worked at Dartford didn't it?
Yoda
Registered user
Near to Calais, some of the Peages have right hand toll booths/ticket points.
I've done many long autoroute journeys on my own and have perfected the art of undoing seatbelt, out of gear, handbrake on and lean across. However, that is in a people carrier, which tends to be the same height as the toll booth window, thus making life a smidgeon easier.
If I were doing more solo journeys I'd probably get a Telepeage wottsit which allows you to drive straight through and it autobills you (I think).
Remember that there are some peages in France that have a special booth for bikes!! Always on the right, you'll see a small lane (the A14 has it as has the Pont de Normandy - which is free for bikes).
Since you need to be going to the booths on the right, look at the furthest lane if it's for bikes.
Since you need to be going to the booths on the right, look at the furthest lane if it's for bikes.
Rambling Sid Rumpo
Guest
If you really, really want to test the patience of locals (especially in my case some joker(s) in a very large Sprinter van) I can recommend losing your ticket then finding yourself a ticket wallah at the next peage station whose English is about as good as my French and waiting and waiting while interminable phone conversations take place.
Strangely, smiling lots and looking vacant / British didn't seem to win me many friends...
Strangely, smiling lots and looking vacant / British didn't seem to win me many friends...
Millau Bridge Toll
How not to pay the Toll for crossing the bridge...............
I've just got back from a 3500 mile Spanish Odyssey, taking in Santander, Portugal, Spain, Andorra, France, Spain, France, Spain, France etc, culminating with a journey to Caen.
On the way we crossed over the Millau bridge, travelling north.
The motorway up to it is spectacular as is the bridge.
We then stopped in the rest area immediately after the bridge.
The car park there is split in to two, ie. for north bound and south bound traffic. The two are seperated by a locked gate and a kerb edge.
As our car park was very busy we crossed the kerb in to the southbound car park and dined on our supermarket bought grub.
We then realised that we could head south again from this car park and re cross the bridge and thus avoid heading north and getting captured by the Peage point (which is to the north of the bridge).
I've no idea what the toll would have been, but the sense of victory over Rip Off France was immeasurable.
There is also an adjacent non-motorway network road that can be accessed by going between a couple of large boulders: big enough for a GS and panniers.
How not to pay the Toll for crossing the bridge...............
I've just got back from a 3500 mile Spanish Odyssey, taking in Santander, Portugal, Spain, Andorra, France, Spain, France, Spain, France etc, culminating with a journey to Caen.
On the way we crossed over the Millau bridge, travelling north.
The motorway up to it is spectacular as is the bridge.
We then stopped in the rest area immediately after the bridge.
The car park there is split in to two, ie. for north bound and south bound traffic. The two are seperated by a locked gate and a kerb edge.
As our car park was very busy we crossed the kerb in to the southbound car park and dined on our supermarket bought grub.
We then realised that we could head south again from this car park and re cross the bridge and thus avoid heading north and getting captured by the Peage point (which is to the north of the bridge).
I've no idea what the toll would have been, but the sense of victory over Rip Off France was immeasurable.
There is also an adjacent non-motorway network road that can be accessed by going between a couple of large boulders: big enough for a GS and panniers.
Dodging the peage barrier
".....Then when the barrier raises, 3 or 4 bikes can go through for the price of a car. Just don't hesitate..." Perhaps i did, and that's why there are a few haircracks around the fixing screws on my screen - but the barrier did give way....evetually!
".....Then when the barrier raises, 3 or 4 bikes can go through for the price of a car. Just don't hesitate..." Perhaps i did, and that's why there are a few haircracks around the fixing screws on my screen - but the barrier did give way....evetually!
Best I had was travelling in France during a bike race weekend. There were so many bikers that they opened the end lane and invited bikers through for Free.
Neat
JR
always used to be free on the bol 'dor weekend
Big saving on Millau bridge;
The bridge is a fantastic structure and well worth the 5€ for a car crossing. (A bike is probably cheaper) About what you will save on a bottle of wine here - and you will save twice that on a bottle of whisky bought here a long way from Scotland! Who is getting ripped off?
The bridge is a fantastic structure and well worth the 5€ for a car crossing. (A bike is probably cheaper) About what you will save on a bottle of wine here - and you will save twice that on a bottle of whisky bought here a long way from Scotland! Who is getting ripped off?
I managed to form a queue at the Reims peage. I took my ticket to enter the motorway but the barrier stayed down.I had visions of being stuck in Reims fro ever.
There was no bother from anyone in the queue at all, can you imagine the same in the UK, I would have been given loads of verbal, no doubt my parentage would have been questioned and the car horns would have been sounding.
Happened to me in September - back up and tried again 3 times (got three tickets) - dunno what was going on (some Fench bird was talking to me over the little speaker, but couldn't work out what she was saying); eventually gave up; backed out of the the queue and went around the side. Matey on a Honda Blackbird had no problem - put it down to too much plastic and not enough metal on the 1200GS!
STUBBS
undead
last time i was in france the french bikers quing told me to follow them through for free
kenseaton
Registered user
I can't imagine trying it with a credit card, but when I had to cross the Tay Bridge on my CD175 to get to work I used a bit of wire to attach a rubber(eraser) to the handlebar; cut a 10p sized slot in the top of the rubber and off I went.
Simple and cheap. As long as I remembered to put the 10p in the slot...
Ken
Simple and cheap. As long as I remembered to put the 10p in the slot...
Ken
Can't really understand why people don't want to get into the longest queue, turn the bike engine off, put it on the side stand, take the gloves off, search for money in all you pockets before finding a large note in the inside one, pay the toll with a smile, drop the change, climb off the bike to pick up the change, stow the change away in the inside pocket, zip up the jacket again, put on the gloves, start up the bike, pull away, restart the bike, put up the centre stand, start off again and wave to the crowd
+1after all its their own fault for having such a daft system!!!
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