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Dartford Bridge Toll Is To Be Dropped – but Only For Bikers.
After indicating last year in a consultation document that the toll charges for motorcycles on the Dartford Bridge would be dropped, the Minister for
Transport, John Spellar, has announced that the Government would proceed with implementing the new charging regime for the Dartford Crossing to commence in April 2003.
The key factor affecting motorcycles in the announcement is that bikers will not be charged!
MAG's Director Of Public Affairs, Trevor Baird said, "The present toll charge is 40p one way, with the dropping of charges for motorcycles this could represent in a working year a
saving of over one hundred and fifty pounds."
The issue was raised during the run up to the last general election when many thousands of riders turned up at Dartford, Southampton, Plymouth, Newcastle and similarly tolled crossings.
This will reinforce MAG's message that we should not be scrabbling about removing gloves for loose change, holding up larger traffic, or putting ourselves at risk of dropping machines.
To emphasise these problems, and to 'raise the ante' riders had been urged to offer large denomination notes when using tolled crossings and to take time replacing their gloves, wallets,
helmets and waterproofs.
This comes on top of motorcycles not being subjected to the £5 per day congestion charging in London.
Whatever next? Motorcycles exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty?
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