We all love an afternoon ride, Country roads present their particular dangers, easily overcome by being vigilant.  Interstate highways however present their own dangers, most of which are out of your control.  Weather in a group of riding solo, one danger to the interstate motor-cycler can be reduced, and almost eliminated entirely.  That danger is the ever-present Tollbooth.

While cycle riding has its own inherent dangers, one of the most feared is the one of being rear ended by another vehicle.  This is prone to happen while at a standstill, whether it is at a stoplight, a tollbooth, or at the local drive through.  This situation is fraught with dangers that are for the most part out of your control.

Imagine this scenario, you (single rider pull into a tool booth, and as you pay your fee or stow your ticket.  Suddenly you are rear ended by an in attentive driver who was trying to get his/or her monies out before stopping the vehicle.  If you are in a car your injuries might not be anymore than a simple (not to minimize it) case of whiplash, however such an accident on a cycle could easily land you and or your corridor in the infirmary.

OR…

Imagine yourself in a group ride, all of your group chooses to line up at one booth lane, after the lead rider pays his fee, or obtains his ticket, where is her to go? Out into traffic?  The ideal action would be to move up (IF POSSIBLE) and sit in the booth lane.  NOW Imagine each rider went to a different lane. Where do you go, if you are finish, you can't move up and wait, because now there are other vehicles behind you waiting for access to the booth.  The questions become…

1 - Do I continue on and wait for the group to catch up?

2 - Do I beeline to the shoulder and wait? (Possibly darting across multiple lanes of traffic to do so)

OR…

How do we as motorcycle riders avoid the Oil, coolant, and other fluids that accumulate at the toll booth lane?  Such “spills” with the addition of just the slightest bit of moisture could prove DEADLY to a Bike rider.

The answer to this would be to AVOID the necessity of stopping altogether, the solution to this is EZ-Pass.

It allows for prepayment of all tolls through the use of an electronic transponder, that is linked to a bank account, or Credit/debit card.

EZ-pass is available in the following states…

1.   Maine

2.   New Hampshire

3.   Massachusetts

4.   New York

5.   New Jersey

6.   Pennsylvania

7.   Delaware

8.   Maryland

9.   Virginia

10. West Virginia

11. Illinois (known as I-Pass)

 12. NOW OHIO!!!!!

 (New York Avenue Garage, Atlantic City, Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, Albany Airport

The current rates for EZ-Pass are as follows

(Please note: these rates were quoted for PENNSYLVANIA ONLY,  I will note where thereis infoemation regarding other states policies and procedures.  NOTE: you do NOT have to be a resident of that state to obtain that states EZ-pass transponder.

PENNSYLVANIA (Individual account)

Up to 4 transponders per account

A minimum prepaid balance of $35 is required, as well as a $25 deposit for each tag you order (Deposit is waived with automatic replenishment options). There are three payment options from which you can choose from when establishing your account. You can only apply online using the credit card option.

PAYMENT PLANS

1) DIRECT PAY FROM BANK ACCOUNT - Automatic replenishment

You cannot apply online using this payment option.  This option is convenient because of its Automatic Replenishment feature.  You can choose how much money to put into your account based on your toll usage ($35 minimum per tag).  Whenever your account reaches $10.00 or less per tag, your checking account will be debited for the appropriate amount.  Under this plan you'll never have to worry about low toll balances or mailing in a payment.  Just remember to include a voided personal check with your application.

2) CREDIT CARD - Automatic replenishment

You may also choose to use your credit card for payment.  Again you'll have the convenience of the Automatic Replenishment feature.  Whenever your account reaches $10.00 or less per tag, your credit card will be charged for the appropriate amount ($35 minimum per tag).  And again, you'll never have to think about low toll balances or mailing in a payment.

3) PERSONAL CHECK OR CASH

You cannot apply online using this payment option.  You may establish your prepaid account with a personal check or cash ($35 minimum per tag). However, this payment method does not have the Automatic Replenishment feature. That means when your account balance reaches $15 per tag, you will be required to mail or hand-deliver your replenishment payment to the Customer Service Center (Cash must be hand-delivered).

The Application to the PENNSYLVANIA EZ-Pass system can be opened by….

CLICKING HERE.

Please call the PA Turnpike Commission Customer Service Center during normal business hours (M-F, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.) at 1-877-PENNPASS (736-6727). For your protection, pin numbers will not be provided via email.