# Score one for the I-pass lane...oh, wait... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 31, 2005, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/score-one-for-the-i-pass-lane-oh-wait/328811 "2005-10-31T22:36:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2005, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/score-one-for-the-i-pass-lane-oh-wait/328811/21 "2005-11-02T21:21:20Z")
> [@Mach Tuck](#): > > _sigh_ I’ve said this before… > > Let’s just get rid of ALL the tollbooths and use taxes to pay for roads. The concept of the tollbooth has to be the stupidest invention of modern man: In order to make the roads go, we must make the roads… stop. Frequently at points that are already bottlenecks, such as bridges. > > EZ-Pass is the government’s idea of how to make it easier to pay a toll that we shouldn’t be paying. Everyone benefits from roads, even the ones a given individual doesn’t drive on. > > And at the risk of being an alarmist, I think they are a safety risk. All it takes is an out-of-control tractor trailer, or perhaps a disgruntled pseudo-terrorist to make a mess of a big toll plaza. EZ pass or human toll taker. > > Down with tollbooths. The Pennsylvania Turnpike is a privately owned road, and as such it does not accept tax dollars. It is wholly funded by its users. That suits me just fine. From my house it’s $10 to Pittsburgh, so I pay $40 a year to visit my family. Conversely, if I don’t get to go out there, I pay nothing. If I so desire, I can take Rt. 22 or Rt. 30, both public roads, and take up to 8 hours to get to the same place rather than 4. ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2005, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/score-one-for-the-i-pass-lane-oh-wait/328811/22 "2005-11-02T22:43:37Z")
For the record, that stretch of 294 is almost done being worked on so it won’t be long before the new Open Tolling is in place and it eases up. The problem is you have the curve just south of Higgins where the lanes on the left are being worked on and a bridge on the right so there is no place to add lanes, it stinks but it’sll be over soon. Just be glad you don’t have to drive it every day! Luckily I have the reverse commute and I time it so I am not on the road when it is busiest. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/score-one-for-the-i-pass-lane-oh-wait/328811/23 "2005-11-03T15:00:56Z")
I hate the morons who can’t seem to understand that the I-Pass only lanes at the exits are…for I-Pass only. Read the fucking signs, dumbshits! There’s like a half dozen of those big, color-coded mother fuckers. And for fucks sake, it says ‘Do not stop’ right in front of you so…Don’t. Fucking. Stop. Jackasses. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/score-one-for-the-i-pass-lane-oh-wait/328811/24 "2005-11-03T15:30:02Z")
> [@5que](#): > > Dude, drive much around here??? It has **everything** to do with construction, because they have taken a number of both manual and I-pass lanes out of service for the open road tolling project. Where there used to be maybe 10 manual lanes and 3 I-pass lanes, you’re now down to 2-3 I-pass and 4 manual. > > When this construction nightmare gets done, you will be able to go straight through with an I-pass without slowing down or going through a toll plaza. That should help. Exactly! And anyone that has driven in the area for more than a few years remembers what the toll stops were like pre-IPass. The scene described in the OP occurred twice every day even without construction. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/score-one-for-the-i-pass-lane-oh-wait/328811/25 "2005-11-03T15:45:51Z")
> [@Mach Tuck](#): > > EZ-Pass is the government’s idea of how to make it easier to pay a toll that we shouldn’t be paying. Everyone benefits from roads, even the ones a given individual doesn’t drive on. Fuck that. I’ll pay for 100% of the roads with my taxes when you pay 100% of my public transit fees with yours. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/score-one-for-the-i-pass-lane-oh-wait/328811/26 "2005-11-03T21:37:13Z")
> [@Neurotik](#): > > Fuck that. I’ll pay for 100% of the roads with my taxes when you pay 100% of my public transit fees with yours. Deal. I’d be quite happy to pay higher taxes for good transit systems. We would all benefit. However, the analogy isn’t quite right. One often has to wait for a train, so there is ample time to buy a ticket. Also, waiting around to buy a ticket doesn’t waste a lot of gas and increase pollution. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/score-one-for-the-i-pass-lane-oh-wait/328811/27 "2005-11-03T21:58:41Z")
> [@Mach Tuck](#): > > However, the analogy isn’t quite right. One often has to wait for a train, so there is ample time to buy a ticket. Also, waiting around to buy a ticket doesn’t waste a lot of gas and increase pollution. True, but keeping me off the road does. And it helps ease congestion for you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/score-one-for-the-i-pass-lane-oh-wait/328811.md?page=1)