M6 Toll - Are bikes free?

[beeblemaster]

According to their website they still charge tolls for bikes, but I've been past a couple of signs indicating charges and the top line which had a bike symbol and charges are all blanked out.

The signs I've noticed are at Churchbridge, Cannock and at the Wall island on the A5.

Anyone know if they are charging or not?
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Current Bike(s): Yamaha TDM 900 (2004), Honda CX 500 Custom (1981), Yamaha XJ600S Diversion (1995)
Previous Bike(s): Yamaha XJ600S Diversion (1998), Yamaha SR 125 (1996)

[iCraig]

Err, last time I went down the M6 that far I saw new fares were coming in from the 21st of July, and bikes didn't feature on the new signs so I guess not!

[impaler]

According to this the prices went up by 50p for motorbikes in June, so I guess the signs are just covered up until they update them...
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Monster m600
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An optimist will tell you the glass is half full. The pessimist, half empty. The engineer will tell you the glass is twice the size it needs to be.

[gowenwilliams]

If you do get charged at the toll, give them the old MAG classic:

Take as long as possible to remove your lid, gloves and jacket, then rummage around in your inner clothing and present them with a crisp £20. Take your time arranging your change (coins in your pants, notes in your jacket), then ...slowly... zip up your jacket, and put on your gloves and lid.

After a while of EVERY biker doing this, bikes will get past for free.
even if its just to save the cashier the hassle!

[beeblemaster]

I'm sure that they already had put the updated charges for all as I remember seeing "valid from xxx June" and now all of a sudden bikes have been blanked off.
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Current Bike(s): Yamaha TDM 900 (2004), Honda CX 500 Custom (1981), Yamaha XJ600S Diversion (1995)
Previous Bike(s): Yamaha XJ600S Diversion (1998), Yamaha SR 125 (1996)

[impaler]

I once got let off for a toll on a bridge near Warrington/Lymm of 12p (I think)... even the lass on the booth realised it wasn't worth her while to have me blocking up the only toll booth trying to find some coppers...
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Monster m600
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An optimist will tell you the glass is half full. The pessimist, half empty. The engineer will tell you the glass is twice the size it needs to be.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Tolls do apply. There was a letter in MCN about it. Apparently they are getting loads of complaints from riders who assume there is no toll because bikes are no longer shown on the signs.

Suspect if we take our time then the operators will just up the price for bikes to cover their additional costs.

All the best

Keith
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[Zoffo]

It's worth a few quid of anyones money to hit it when it's quiet. Me and a mate went through it for the first time a few months back. Saw the signs "M6 toll" so nailed it believing the stories of no plod or scameras on the toll road (not true BTW). After hammering down the motorway at slightly more than the speed limit (no I haven't forgotten about the sneaky plod surfers) we hit the toll itself. We hadn't even got there yet. The signs were just indication the direction to go in not that you were actually on it.

Oh Hum.....
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https://hyperbikes.forumsplace.com/

[yambabe]

We went down it just last weekend.

Bikes are not free. We are now charged the same as cars. The woman in the booth said that the "car" price is standard for all vehicles except those shown on the price list now.

£2.50 each. It's a lovely bit of road, but I won't be using it again soon.......
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[map]

According to www.m6toll.co.uk site the charges are £2.50 for bikes, or any vehicle wich less than 4 wheels (£1.50 at night). Pricing info click here.

HTH
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...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger?

[Kickstart]

[Sadie]

[Shaun]

Lets do it!

[carvell]

[Kickstart]

[yambabe]

I am getting in touch with them via the "contact us" section of their website:

[Wave2k]

no bikes are not free on the m6 toll
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[Annabella]

[Chriss]

Going southbound, me and three other riders used the machine, when it was a pound (I struggle to find a pound in my leathers, let alone £2.50!) and four of us got through using one pound.
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TheShaggyDA: I've got 3 or 4 pairs that predate my wife, so at least 11.5 years old.

[natv4]

Just to add my experience.

I was travelling back from Manchester a couple months ago. The signs were covered for bikes, so naturally I assumed bikes no longer paid. Got to the toll booth and the lady would not allow me through. I told her I had no cash, so she took my reg (they don't have a camera on your plate and my name & address.

I rang up, explained about the sign and they told me I didn't have to pay as the signs were covered.

I doubt this would work twice.
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[yambabe]

Well I had a reply from Customer Services today. I'll post the whole thing up tomorrow (it's on my work email) but basically I think they were telling me that most of their customers are Class 2 vehicles (duh! Cars. Kinda guessed that!) and these customers are so stupid they can't tell the difference between a picture of a bike and a picture of a car on the price list and were getting confused.

They advise everyone who is intending to travel to check their website for prices first - not so easy if you're going to make a last-minute decision on which route to take based on traffic conditions and what the big price signs say huh?

I think I'm going to make this a personal crusade...........
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[Dom_]

This is the reply i got off them

[dibbster]

[yambabe]

Obviously a stock response Dom_ cos I'm pretty sure that was what mine said too.
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[bazza]

Interesting view on pricing from Trading Standards (my emphasis):