Got this in my morning e-mail from Hal Kendall. I would to thank EVERYBODY who came to my assistance in this matter. I am NOT trying to position myself as the Rosa Parks of sidecars but I wasn;t going to be a victim. Hopefully these threads will die and we can discuss more maintsream isse like: What replacement tires should I put on my R90/6 - Ural rig? How old and prone to rubber rot are those special sidecar tires? hen were they last made. My rig needs new skins after this last trip. Thanks everybody.
Letter from Jamie Montgomery:
Mr. Kendall, Thank you for writing me and informing me of the
situation of the person you are representing. I apologize for the
manner of which the whole situation was handled.
I am sure you know that the Chicago Skyway is no longer owned or
operated by the City of Chicago and is in fact operated by my company,
Skyway Concession Company, and we took over operations back in late
January of this year.
When I set the standards for the definition of an axle, I followed the
true dictionary definition of an axle and we charge as such. When Dr.
Duke traveled the Skyway I, as well as my boss, were there to catch
the end of what had happened (as he drove off).
We chose the dictionary definition only because there was no
nationwide published standard of what an axle is and all toll roads
charge differently, some go by weight, some by height, some axle
counts, some by commercial or private, and many based on combinations
of all the above. Here at SCC charge strictly by the number of axles.
I have found very few toll roads to list on their website how they
handle motorcycles with sidecars
1) http://www.massturnpike.com/pdf/cmr/703.pdf#search ='motorcycle%
20sidecar%20toll%20rates'
2)
_ http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/hwybrdg/tollbridge/Schedule/BayArea
.html
I have spoken with 11 states that have tolls and none of them stated a
set standard but have told me that they leave it up to the collector
or whatever their treadle counts. I was very surprised at the wide
variations from state to state on how they handle this rare occasion.
If you do have something released by these states I would love to see
it as I did not get much help from them. I did however find cycle
groups that stated that this seems to be a problem and that changes
need to be made to have a blanket rule for all states (and now
privatized roads) to follow, most of them included quotes from you.
When the Dr. Duke traveled the Skyway that day it was the first time
that we knowingly had a cycle with sidecar. Our collector did what
they were supposed to do based on the definition of an axle that we
used for determining our classifications but after reviewing and
considering how infrequent this occurs, I have decided to make an
exception for sidecars on cycles. I revised our classification system
to define a class 2 vehicle to include a motorcycle (a vehicle with a
saddle or seat for the rider) with a sidecar. A motorcycle with a
trailer will however get charged for that axle in tow.
I have sent memos to my collectors and supervisors stating the change
and hope that this will minimize this event from happening again. I
wishI could eliminate it completely but I am sure you know that it is
stillup to the collector as I can not be in every booth for every
transaction. If this does happen again I hope you will let me know so
Ican right it.
Please send my apologies to Dr. Duke for me. And thank you for
assisting me with righting a wrong here on the Cintra-Mig Chicago
Skyway.
Mr. Jamie Montgomery
Toll Plaza Manager
Skyway Concession Co. LLC
773-356-5532 office
773-356-5570 fax
jmontgomery@...
To more readily have detailed reference material to hand when addressing Tollway Authorities I have compiled a document of published information from the early Sidecarists beginning in August 1977. This covers some 35 pages over the ensuing five year period and does not include letters nor replies to or from the authorities which filled several file cabinets. Even the IRS does not go back more than seven years.
The latest, one of our boys got charged for three axles over the Grand Island Bridge coming back from Canada. The New York State Thruway Authority Department of Public Affairs claimed that if the sidecar axle is not lined up with the drive axle of ther bike, the vehicle is considered a 3LOW. Then they show a picture of a 3LOW which is a CAR pulling a TRAILER!, not a motorcycle with a sidecar. Motorcycles on the EZ plan are charged half the cash rate.
For those not aware, there are holes big enough to drive a Mack truck and trailer through that spurious argument which is total BS.
However, back in March 6, 1978, we had confirmation from New York through the thruways that motorcycles, with, or without sidecars were classed as Class 1, the same as cars
and in July 31, 1980 that across the New York Rip Van Winkle Bridge, the Mid-Hudson Bridge, the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge, and the Bear Mountain Bridge that Solo Motorcycles, with or without a sidecar were to be charged $0.50, and an additional $.25 if a trailer were pulled behind either.
Also, across the NY/NJ Port Auth Lincoln Tunnel, reference March 2, 1978, that a motorcycle with or without a sidecar was to be charged at $0.75 for the round trip, while a car was to be charged DOUBLE, at $1.50 per round trip.
Now, fellas, I for one, do not like this constant screwing around. Once a deal is done it is done. I am very tired when you need to go back every other day to keep checking up on them to see if they are keeping their side. Sounds like another case of paleface and indian treaty and we are the indian.
As I compose my thoughts to the Governor I will gradually build and update the tollway file. Any serious historian may contact me on my private line for a copy.
Hal kendall
All of this just makes me think that the authorities know that sidecarist are not numerous enough to cause then any serious problems. We're kinda like gnats to them, they just swat us when we're annoying. Seriously, we're too small in number to cause them more than an occasional thought, so they can jerk us around however they feel like doing it! I doubt that things will change unless we collectively cause something to change, that is, if such a small group "can" cause change.
That is exactly what the state of Illinois and the State of New Jersey thought also - until they were faced with bills introcuced by Senators who got pissed off by their antics. You see, the toll MUST be equitable AND uniform within the class - not a catch as can can ot they are outside the basic code uniform code of operation that establishes their very creation. And they get very afraid especially when the attorney general of the state gets on our side. Do not screw with the little people.
After a chat with the attorney general the head of the Illinois tolway suddenly deceided that he did not want to see me at our prearranged meet. This is all recorded.
Yes, we have power. Do not forget it. And do not abuse it,
So far, we have not lost a single battle that we have set out to win. Some have been bloody. The longext wsa Illinois - but most have listened to reason within a few letters of exchange.
