Author Topic: Motorcycle Fares on Washington State Ferries to Increase 14% (Read 2815 times)

Red01 · « **on:** January 20, 2006, 11:52:30 PM »

Northwest Cycle News Special Mailing - Ferry Rate Increase

Motorcycle Fares on Washington State Ferries to Increase 14%
Ferries are part of everyday life for many motorcyclists in Washington state. Motorcyclists enjoy reduced fares and priority boarding on most ferry runs. Recently the Washington State Ferries has proposed a rate increase of 14% for motorcycles. At the same time they are proposing a 6% increase in the fares for cars and trucks.

The substantial fare boost for motorcycle riders was long overdue, Washington State Ferries spokeswoman Susan Harris-Huether said. Motorcycles have for years been considered one-fifth the size of a typical car or truck. WSF would now like to update that estimate to one-fourth.

“Motorcycles have grown in size over the years, and so has the number of them,” Harris-Huether said. “They’re not tucked into the nooks and crannies anymore.”

Sure motorcycles have gotten marginally larger over the years but cars, particularly SUV’s, have increased more. So why are motorcyclists getting hit with a bigger increase?

A petition has been started to oppose the excessive increase in motorcycle fares and to urge the WSF to make any increase in fares equitable for all ferry users. The petition is available at: http://www.ipetitions.com/campaigns/WSF_Moto_Fares

You can e-mail the petition to your fellow riders using the link on the petition page. Spread the word. I am told that a strong response can affect the decision.

Updates and new information will be posted in the forum at http://www.northwestcyclenews.com

--
John Davis
Editor & Publisher
http://www.NorthwestCycleNews.com

Oppose the Motorcycle Fare Increase on Washington State Ferries
Visit http://www.ipetitions.com/campaigns/WSF_Moto_Fares

Landry · « **Reply #1 on:** January 21, 2006, 12:23:46 PM »

Typical tax idiots.

Does a Prius pay 2/3rds what a Hummer pays? I doubt it. Stupid logic. They should just charge for a ride, no matter how you get across . . . horse, motorcycle, rickshaw, Nikes, car, tank, unicycle, elephant . . . you get the picture. That's the way it is for the St. Francisville ferry in Louisiana. All vehicles pay the same. Not sure about a pedestrian. I'm sure they have to pay something. I'd just offer 1/2 of the fare amount to a dude in a car and ride on with him. Then, we could each save some change.

There comes a point where a freaking bridge is more economical.

I hope the petition gets a nice long list of names.

tacoman · « **Reply #2 on:** January 21, 2006, 01:47:44 PM »

I agree Paul, I don't understand the logic. A full dresser doesn't take up a whole lot more space than my B6. Seems to me they should encourage alternate transportation modes opposed to driving your big SUV everywhere. If more motorcycle, scooter, bicycle passengers increased, there would be quicker lines. Also, they would fit more vehicles which would equate to more revenue earned per trip. I think that's the biggest problem facing our ferries, revenue per trip. With the exception of commuters and busy summer weekends, a lot of these boats run empty.

Red01 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 28, 2006, 03:50:49 PM »

A rare victory for motorcyclists!

We fought the gov't and WON!!

Quote from: "John Davis & WSF Petition"

You are receiving this e-mail because you signed an online petition
opposing the increase in ferry rates for motorcycles.

If you no longer wish to receive messages form this list, do nothing.
This is the final mailing you will receive. The list will be erased
after this message is sent.

If you wish to stay current on motorcycle news in the northwest, please
visit http://www.northwestcyclenews.com and subscribe to the bi-weekly
newsletter.

======================
Fare Increase Defeated
======================

The Seattle Times is reporting that:

"Based on overwhelming public comment in opposition to one of its
proposals, the Tariff Policy Committee has dropped a recommendation for a
steeper increase in motorcycle fares."

Part of the "overwhelming public comment" was the nearly 300 signatures
gathered online.

Motorcyclists can be a powerful force when we work together.

=====================
Thank you and Goodbye
=====================

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for getting involved
in this process. I hope that it encourages everyone to be involved in
motorcycle-related issues at all levels.

As noted above, this is the final update on the WSF fare increase. This
mailing list will self-destruct after this mailing.

I invite you to visit http://www.northwestcyclenews.com for the latest
Northwest motorcycling news.

Ride safe,

John Davis
Editor & Publisher
http://www.NorthwestCycleNews.com

PitterB4 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 28, 2006, 04:00:13 PM »

Nice!

Reading that thread though... Where the F has Landry been????

tacoman · « **Reply #5 on:** March 29, 2006, 02:19:44 PM »

This goes along with the other post about the idiot editor. Motorcyclists used to be passive and were an easy target for restrictions, taxes, raiding their ORV fund, etc. With help from the AMA, we don't get pushed around anymore.

GaryB12VA · « **Reply #6 on:** March 29, 2006, 05:56:41 PM »

Good job

Red01 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 29, 2006, 08:33:51 PM »

Uh Oh!

time!

When it comes to the raiding of ORV funds and land use battles, the AMA hasn't been that active, at least not as much as I think they should. I also think the MIC should be more involved than they are. Afterall, if the lands are closed, who is going to be buying dirt bikes & ATV's?

OTOH, The Blue Ribbon Coalition has done a LOT. And not just for motorcyclists, but for the ATV, 4WD, snowmobile, equestrian and even PWC communities. Even though they are much smaller than the big green groups they fight with, they've become feared adversaries. Thank the BRC for getting a national trail fund in the first place. They've also kept snowmobile access open in Yellowstone. They've been instrumental in most any other ORV victory in thelast 15 or more years.
(They've been around for 19 years, but the first few they were just getting started.)

If you have any interest in curbing the spread of Wilderness designation (where ALL machines are prohibited, including bicycles and wheelchairs) and other closures of public land, I urge you to join the BRC and join the fights. Just like the signatures helped prevent unfair ferry rate hikes for motorcycles, letter writing campaigns, petitoins and phone calls help keep America's land open to everyone - not just the ones fit enough to hike umpteen miles into the backcountry.

/soapbox