The Cat Posted 13 September, 2012 Posted 13 September, 2012 Toll booths going, installing those bucket things you have to lob money into which don't give change. I guess this saves the council money on wages for the workers who sat in the little booths. Those blue lights on the bridge are pretty though, so if they are cutting costs due to overspend on those I'm all for it.
Saint in Paradise Posted 14 September, 2012 Posted 14 September, 2012 How do these bucket things know if you have paid the correct money or even if it is UK money rather than foreign coinage ?
laughing now Posted 14 September, 2012 Posted 14 September, 2012 How do these bucket things know if you have paid the correct money or even if it is UK money rather than foreign coinage ? There is a hole in the bottom of the bucket and the coins go down a tube into an underground room where they are checked by the guys who used to work in the toll booths.
Weston Super Saint Posted 14 September, 2012 Posted 14 September, 2012 How do these bucket things know if you have paid the correct money or even if it is UK money rather than foreign coinage ? Is it still a 50p charge? IF so, it'll only be our 'cousins' from the island of Dr Moreau that'll feck it up!
stu0x Posted 14 September, 2012 Posted 14 September, 2012 How do these bucket things know if you have paid the correct money or even if it is UK money rather than foreign coinage ? The same way a vending machine, or indeed any other automated cash payment device, does. Measurement and weight.
alpine_saint Posted 14 September, 2012 Posted 14 September, 2012 So how do you continue to use the red and blue tokens ?
Minty Posted 14 September, 2012 Posted 14 September, 2012 So how do you continue to use the red and blue tokens ? They're introducing a new smart card system to replace the tokens. All the info is here: http://www.southampton.gov.uk/s-environment/roadsandparking/itchenbridge/itchen-bridge-automation.aspx
The Cat Posted 14 September, 2012 Author Posted 14 September, 2012 Looks like the Smartcities card can be purchased by anyone whereas the tokens have only been for Southampton residents and therefore not people like me who due to the bizarre boundary lines live within Eastleigh borough. That's good.
The Cat Posted 14 September, 2012 Author Posted 14 September, 2012 Also good that motorbikes will now be free. Should have always been that way especially as it saves them sodding about trying to get 20p out of their pocket and holding up the queue.
Massimo Osti Posted 14 September, 2012 Posted 14 September, 2012 Looks like the Smartcities card can be purchased by anyone whereas the tokens have only been for Southampton residents and therefore not people like me who due to the bizarre boundary lines live within Eastleigh borough. That's good. If you read the first Q&A line it says 1. Will local resident's concessions still be available? Local resident's concessions will still be available, through the smart card system. Tokens are not for all Southampton residents only selected postcodes As an everyday bridge user I am not looking forward to this automation, its bad enough when the numpties have a human to communicate with and still hold up the traffic, Hope they have a grab to winch up the morons with no money/£50 note/sat nav directions and drop them over the side .
pap Posted 14 September, 2012 Posted 14 September, 2012 Wasn't this bridge supposed to have been paid for (and free thereafter) ages ago?
Whitey Grandad Posted 14 September, 2012 Posted 14 September, 2012 Wasn't this bridge supposed to have been paid for (and free thereafter) ages ago? Yes, that was ages ago. You didn't believe them, did you?
SO16_Saint Posted 14 September, 2012 Posted 14 September, 2012 Also good that motorbikes will now be free. Should have always been that way especially as it saves them sodding about trying to get 20p out of their pocket and holding up the queue. Why should bikes be free?
Wurzel Posted 15 September, 2012 Posted 15 September, 2012 Wasn't this bridge supposed to have been paid for (and free thereafter) ages ago? I was speaking to somebody recently who was working on the council group that dealt with procuring the bridge, he admitted that it's a common perception that everyone believes (myself included), but was never ever even discussed let alone stated by the council. Can only assume it's a rumour that we all wanted to believe, no reason for him to make it up as he had several axes to grind over other issues involved with it's building/routing.
Whitey Grandad Posted 15 September, 2012 Posted 15 September, 2012 I was speaking to somebody recently who was working on the council group that dealt with procuring the bridge, he admitted that it's a common perception that everyone believes (myself included), but was never ever even discussed let alone stated by the council. Can only assume it's a rumour that we all wanted to believe, no reason for him to make it up as he had several axes to grind over other issues involved with it's building/routing. I'm quite certain that I remember a statement at the time it was approved that there would be no tolls once the bridge was paid for. This may, of course, have been inaccurate.
aintforever Posted 15 September, 2012 Posted 15 September, 2012 So the booth workers get dumped on the dole and we get robbed by no-change-giving machines, great.
krissyboy31 Posted 15 September, 2012 Posted 15 September, 2012 I was speaking to somebody recently who was working on the council group that dealt with procuring the bridge, he admitted that it's a common perception that everyone believes (myself included), but was never ever even discussed let alone stated by the council. Can only assume it's a rumour that we all wanted to believe, no reason for him to make it up as he had several axes to grind over other issues involved with it's building/routing. It may not have been officially debated but it was certainly what was spun at the time, TBH I think all toll roads and bridges built at the time, when paying to use any road was alien, were launched with the comfort factor that they would revert to "free to use" once the loans had been paid off.
TopGun Posted 15 September, 2012 Posted 15 September, 2012 The bridge obviously needs an upkeep and maintenance budget. I had an embarrassing but funny situation last year on the M6 toll booth. My dad was driving and he chose a cash bucket lane. I gave him the right money and he chucked it at the bucket but missed it entirely. The money bounced back and went under the car! So I had to get out a ask the car behind to move back a bit so the money could then be retrieved! Luckily everyone thought it was funny, except for my duffer dad!
Whitey Grandad Posted 16 September, 2012 Posted 16 September, 2012 The bridge obviously needs an upkeep and maintenance budget. I had an embarrassing but funny situation last year on the M6 toll booth. My dad was driving and he chose a cash bucket lane. I gave him the right money and he chucked it at the bucket but missed it entirely. The money bounced back and went under the car! So I had to get out a ask the car behind to move back a bit so the money could then be retrieved! Luckily everyone thought it was funny, except for my duffer dad! I've had trouble in France. By the I've I'd run round the car to chuck the money in and then got back in my seat the barrier had come down again.
Wade Garrett Posted 16 September, 2012 Posted 16 September, 2012 As a Woolston resident, and somebody who is just too bone idle to buy tokens, the smartcard idea that can be topped up online, is great. Should save me quite a bit of money.
Ric Posted 16 September, 2012 Posted 16 September, 2012 Why should bikes be free? Because they're great
Saint in Paradise Posted 17 September, 2012 Posted 17 September, 2012 Start up the Ferry! Only if it uses steam engines don't want manky diesel fumes.
Ric Posted 17 September, 2012 Posted 17 September, 2012 Start up the Ferry! If you're ever in Sholing, and you want to go to town...
ecuk268 Posted 18 September, 2012 Posted 18 September, 2012 If you're ever in Sholing, and you want to go to town... Don't go through Bitterne That's the long way around.........
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now