Toll fee for bikes on your car?
There's a discussion going on in a triathlon mailing list about having to pay extra at the toll gate if your car has bikes on a bike rack. Here is one story:
When i came home from the AAV Tri, I had my bike on the roof. As i exited into C5, the guy tells me i should pay P130, which is Class 2. Just to shake him off, I said 'Eh kung ilipat ko sa loob ng kotse ngayon?'...he replied...'Sige sir, tapos P65 nalang'.
Kinda dumb since I had already exited. Was he really gonna tag me as Class 2? or was he going to pocket the balance?
For a lot of bikers, this is all a bunch BS. It would've been an acceptable rule had it been enforced properly or if the guidelines were clear. Some bikers have even been warned because their racks are not registered with the LTO. So after all this hullabaloo, someone actually made calls to the Northern and Southern Expressway offices yesterday to get some answers.
Guys, I took the liberty of calling both NLEX and SLEX and here's the low down:
SLEX:
I managed to speak to Alma Tuason, their Spokesperson about this (bossing...). I have to say that she was VERY VERY cordial and really went out of her way to research this for us.
She says that she has NO knowledge of such a rule - That vehicles with bikes on bike racks whose total height is more than 7'6" should be billed as a Class 2. As far as she's concerned, vehicles with bike racks on top are still Class 1.
However, she added that there have been instances on the epass lane when the sensor picks up the height of both vehicle and bike and since the total height will exceed 7 ft, then it is billed as Class 2. But if you will pass through a toll operator, then they should NOT bill you as
Class 2.
NLEX;
I spoke to their Traffic Control (a certain Bassy), and she said the same thing: Vehicles with bikes on the roof should be charged as Class 1 toll only. They measure the height of the vehicle and the bike is just considered an add-on to it. So unless the bike you are carrying is
welded on your roof as an integral part of your car, then you should pay Class 1 only.
So kahit naka SUV kayo, basta yung yung height ng SUV is less than 7 feet, kahit na 5 feet yung seat post ng bike ninyo, ok lang yun. Class 1 pa rin.
In case you want to call SLEX, their number is 751-0372.
In case you want to call NLEX, their number is 580-8900.
The LTO has nothing to do with this rule.
I'd like to make calls myself but I have no time this week. So if you have any information on this ruling, please share your knowldege with us. Based on the information above, toll operators may just be pulling your leg by charging extra, so please be aware when you're taking your bike around. Check for signs about new rules. Or if they stop you for something, ask for a printed version of this rule, when was it passed, yada yada.
When i came home from the AAV Tri, I had my bike on the roof. As i exited into C5, the guy tells me i should pay P130, which is Class 2. Just to shake him off, I said 'Eh kung ilipat ko sa loob ng kotse ngayon?'...he replied...'Sige sir, tapos P65 nalang'.
Kinda dumb since I had already exited. Was he really gonna tag me as Class 2? or was he going to pocket the balance?
For a lot of bikers, this is all a bunch BS. It would've been an acceptable rule had it been enforced properly or if the guidelines were clear. Some bikers have even been warned because their racks are not registered with the LTO. So after all this hullabaloo, someone actually made calls to the Northern and Southern Expressway offices yesterday to get some answers.
Guys, I took the liberty of calling both NLEX and SLEX and here's the low down:
SLEX:
I managed to speak to Alma Tuason, their Spokesperson about this (bossing...). I have to say that she was VERY VERY cordial and really went out of her way to research this for us.
She says that she has NO knowledge of such a rule - That vehicles with bikes on bike racks whose total height is more than 7'6" should be billed as a Class 2. As far as she's concerned, vehicles with bike racks on top are still Class 1.
However, she added that there have been instances on the epass lane when the sensor picks up the height of both vehicle and bike and since the total height will exceed 7 ft, then it is billed as Class 2. But if you will pass through a toll operator, then they should NOT bill you as
Class 2.
NLEX;
I spoke to their Traffic Control (a certain Bassy), and she said the same thing: Vehicles with bikes on the roof should be charged as Class 1 toll only. They measure the height of the vehicle and the bike is just considered an add-on to it. So unless the bike you are carrying is
welded on your roof as an integral part of your car, then you should pay Class 1 only.
So kahit naka SUV kayo, basta yung yung height ng SUV is less than 7 feet, kahit na 5 feet yung seat post ng bike ninyo, ok lang yun. Class 1 pa rin.
In case you want to call SLEX, their number is 751-0372.
In case you want to call NLEX, their number is 580-8900.
The LTO has nothing to do with this rule.
I'd like to make calls myself but I have no time this week. So if you have any information on this ruling, please share your knowldege with us. Based on the information above, toll operators may just be pulling your leg by charging extra, so please be aware when you're taking your bike around. Check for signs about new rules. Or if they stop you for something, ask for a printed version of this rule, when was it passed, yada yada.