This is what I sent to the ADA, Governor, my 3 Legislators, about
50 media email addresses, and the WSF admin (several of them including
the ones who have ignored me so far)
Subject: Washington Ferries Discriminate Against Disabled Motorcyclists.
I myself am not disabled, but the point is not moot, and even
able bodied motorcyclists are ultimately being discriminated against.
A three wheeled motorcycle (trike or sidecar rig) is the only
vehicle which is charged the extra peak season surcharge during
summer months. Anyone who buys the 20 ride passes for automobile,
two wheeled motorcycles, or pedestrian passage is charged the
same price year round. Three wheeled vehicles, however, are charged
not only a surcharge for having one more wheel than a motorcycle,
but they also pay an additional $1.00 per trip surcharge for peak season.
This equates to approximately $40 per month for the average trike
or sidecar commuter.
Any motorcyclist who rides on three wheels due to physical limitations
is therefore discriminated against when compaired to other ferry riders.
When I contacted the Washington State Ferries (several times) I only
received a response after filing a refund form. I was informed that
three wheeled motorcycles are considered oversize vehicles, and that
the oversize surcharges are affected by peak season surcharges.
I was also told that "Multi use products are not affected by peak
season surcharges". The pass I buy for my three wheeled vehicle is
a single 20-ride "M/C & Trike/Sidecar" pass, with a single price on it.
The two wheel motorcycle portion of the pass is inseparable; on days
which I ride a two wheel motorcycle I have to carry a completely
separate pass. The receipts from my pass purchases also list only
one item, and one price - ergo, the trike/sidecar pass is a single product.
It is my opinion that this is all because three wheeled vehicles are
a small numbers of users, and are therefor an easy target. We lack the
numbers to really cause an impact when we complain, so our complaints
are ignored.
I my self am an able bodied rider, but those who are not, are treated
as oversized vehicles and forced to pay tourist rates for their daily
commute. That is discriminatory.
Regards,
Mark Kanzler
Below is my response to the rejection of my request for a refund
(which should never have been made necessary)
---------------------------------------------
I received a negative response to my request for a refund of my
overpayment for ferry fees. It is grossly unfair that
the other riders on the ferry with whom I ride (motorcyclists,
automobiles and foot passengers) do not pay more for their
daily commute each day during peak season, and yet I and
the other three wheeled vehicles pay a peak season fee
simply because our vehicles are different. It now costs
me an extra $40 per month ($1 extra per ride in addition
to $1.30 extra for having a 3rd wheel on my motorcycle).
My request was based upon the statement that frequent
users should not be affected by peak season surcharges,
as sent in the announcement of the peak season fee initiation
this year.
Your refusal was based upon the position that a motorized
trike/sidecar surcharge equates to an oversize vehicle fee.
You stated in your response "Our Multi Ride products do not
increase with peak season".
When I buy my 20 ride motorcycle & surcharge pass, IT IS
A SINGLE PRODUCT! If I ride a two wheeled motorcycle,
there is no way for the person on the dock with a scanner
to deduct one motorcycle ride w/o deducting the "surcharge".
There is only a single price listed on the card (I believe
this holds true for the receipt; you have my receipt which
I sent in with the refund request). Prices are not itemized
and listed sperately for the motorcycle and the surcharge.
There is also no provision for me to buy 20 surcharges at
a time so that I can use a motorcycle pass with my sidecar
(surcharges are single use passes and expire after 7 days).
I tried, and was ignored. I also cannot b
I'm attaching a text file which is a (very) rough outline
of my emails with WSF and my Legislator so far.
Here is the relevant Washington Administrative Code (WAC):
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=468-300-020
And the relevant Revised Code of Washington (RCW) sections:
Look at RCW 47.60.290 (2) (f)
I would suggest posting all the relevant contact info for these various entities. Just to provide a little eye-opening pressure from the internet masses, if you follow.
Good on you for fighting the good fight.
Here are the ones I have, but the last two are legislative representatives, and they are two of the three in my district.
I'll post the link to the legislature and the governor's websites
so you can contact your own representatives and the governor.
If someone else has time to find & post them please do...
I'm keeping my kids awake right now, so I need to log off tonight
(They are sleeping down here in this room tonight so they
don't keep us awake coughing all night - both have colds).
opsrevcont@wsdot.wa.gov, ColburK@wsdot.wa.gov, WSFAlert@wsdot.wa.gov, wsfcs@wsdot.wa.gov, sharris@wsdot.wa.gov, wsfinfo@wsdot.wa.gov, hammonp@wsdot.wa.gov, transc@wsdot.wa.gov, ferryinfo@nwrg.com, LacombL@wsdot.wa.gov, , bertraj@wsdot.wa.gov, MurinkS@wsdot.wa.gov, support@leg.wa.gov, HQCustomerService@WSDOT.WA.GOV, MoseleD@wsdot.wa.gov, GoldenJ@WSDOT.WA.GOV, DevineS@WSDOT.WA.GOV, GriffiR@wstc.wa.gov, seaquist.larry@leg.wa.gov, kilmer.derek@leg.wa.gov,
Mark,
While I totally agree with you, and I applaud your efforts, I can only see one end, and of course, that is with the overwhelmingly bloated government in our State pretty much ignoring you, and by extension, all of us who ride three wheels. I ride the ferry regularly--my son lives on Orcas Island. I just grit my teeth and pay the vig demanded by the State. If only they had some competition, but then there would be no government monopoly, and people would go with the better service and price.
It's not just ferries. A $50.00 bottle of Irish Whiskey in Washington sells for $32.00 in Montana. Doesn't take a genius to understand where that extra money goes.
Other examples? My favorite is the fact that in Washington State, one must have a license to harvest....seaweed! Yes, I'm serious. Oh, and if you fancy crawdads? Yep--special license.
This is, of course, in addition to the motorcycle endorsement, AND the sidecar/trike endorsement, each of which will cost you.
Not *all* of our legislators are crooks---you can tell the honest ones; they usually last one term.
Not that it bothers me much.....8^)
I need to go for a ride!
Hang in there, Mark, and good luck!
i'm not here to defend anything, but in saying that, i moved to washington about 3 years ago from San Francisco area, and compairing the two areas that i spent most of my life, i must say washington has been a heck of a lot cheaper, and living on the right side of the state, i have never seen a HOV lane and we don't have farries, and getting a sidecar license was very easy here, my thought is maybe your just living on the wrong side of the state.
fender
Here is the "Find your legislator" website:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx
And the Governor's contact website:
http://www.governor.wa.gov/contact/
I'll keep trying.
It's one thing if you only occasionally use the ferry - everyone
who uses it with single use or round trip passes pays more in
the summer... but I ride it every day as a means of commuting,
and ONLY the three wheeled vehicles pay more in summer when
they buy a 20-ride pass.
Personally, I think that everyone should pay the same rates,
whether they are locals or tourists, all year round. To bilk
tourists during summer is just crooked, in my opinion.
Also, I don't think that disabled, seniors, or anyone else
should get special discounts. There are people who get
disabled person discounts who have absolutely no challenges
commuting that I don't have.
Putting systems in place to help disabled persons who need
help is fine (e.g. elevators and such), but an outright discount
is just nothing but pity money.
It can't possibly be discrimination. I have it on good authority that the government of WA state is the essence of politically correct.
In this case since it is in the WAC it is really OK, no matter how it feels.
It looks like they do give a break for a disabled drivers or Sr citizens.
They better bring official proof though. Missing parts without official government documentation probably won't work. I think I saw a note in there somewhere that those with missing parts and no paperwork have to row.
According to the literature here : http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/commuter_updates/index.cfm?fuseaction=ada_updates
They never discount the fee for the vehicle even if you are disabled so none of it makes any sense to me. I guess you just show up and pay whatever they tell you. Makes my brain hurt just thinking about it.
From what I read it seems you should be charged double the single bike fee. Not the motorcycle oversize charge?
What happens when you show up with a disabled person a hack, a trailer and a passenger? Probably cheaper to drive a cement truck on.
When we get over there this summer we will find out. I'll be the guy looking at his receipt mumbling Christine O. Gregoire says it's OK. She is my leader, It must be OK. Christine......
Look at RCW 47.60.290 (2) (f)
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=47.60.290
State ferries — Review of fares and pricing policies — Proposals.
(2) Beginning in 2008, the department shall develop fare and
pricing policy proposals that must:
(f) Keep fare schedules as simple as possible.
There is a lot of dicsrimination and bias in the Vehicle laws regarding motorcycles in general. Not only in Washington but at all levels in the US.
I remember passing through Yellowstone in 1988 while riding back from Sturgis. A Canadian riding Buddy and I were at the East gate behind a 65" motorhome pulling a Jeep Grande Cherokee with two bluehairs from Florida at the helm. They were charged $10.00 for a week pass. My partner and I were each charged $10.00 for a week pass. Asking why, we were told the rate was $10.00 per driven vehicle. We spent 2 1/2 Hours going through the park. (Downtown Seattle hourly parking would have been cheaper.) Since then the National Park and Monument rates have changed somewhat but are still baised against Motorcycles.
The only perk we get is first in the ferry lines and lane splitting in California (solo bikes only).
Then there's the helmet laws. The "Public Burden" myth. The actual numbers of debilitating head injuries incurred in car wrecks are greatly higher than from motorcycle crashes. There lies the brunt of the public burden but anytime helmets have been suggested for cagers this idea has been quickly and soundly suppressed.
Why? Helmets would reduce the (car) drivers peripheral vision and hearing and the weight would cause fatigue. They wouldn't be able to hear or perhaps see emergency vehicles in time, etc, yada, yada. Unsafe to wear.
This may have changed but: I believe California is the only State where a Trooper must wear a Helmet while on duty in a car. That is if the Trooper is an on duty motor officer who cannot be using his mount due to inclement weather or road conditions. Only because the Helmet is a part of the official uniform of a Motor Patrolman.
And the beat goes on;
Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars
Helmets in cars would save lives. There are helmets which
don't obstruct vision and hearing - they offer less protection,
but still offer a lot more than nothing. But I am willing to
risk driving my car w/o a helmet.
I also dislike the absolute ban on use of headphones in cars.
A loud stereo will drown out a siren just as well as headphones.
Deaf people are allowed to drive.
And if you wear earmuffs or even earplugs for warmth or to
block out the sound of the kids fighting in the back seat
you would be legal... as long as there is no music in them.
I remember when racing autocross I got in an argument (online)
with some other racers. I said a DOT helmet is more than adequate,
and a cheap one is fine for Auto-X.
They said "Your brain ain't worth much, is it?"
I said "Not like yours... which is unused"
"Try thinking..."
"You say Auto-X is safer than driving on the freeway"
"Now you say I need a $400 helmet for Auto-X"
"Do you wear a $400 helmet when driving on the freeway?"
They got the point.
But logic doesn't apply for busy-bodies and the nanny-state which
wants to regulate all risk out of existence.
Don't even get me started on Boating regulations!
