Tolls on the A22

[DaveK]

So did we but the only distactions were a couple young ladies. Thought they might be wanting a lift home but Gill thought otherwise Never mind.

[Michael Crane]

So did we but the only distactions were a couple young ladies. Thought they might be wanting a lift home but Gill thought otherwise Never mind.

We too saw quite of few of these scantily-clad young ladies. I thought they were selling oranges until I spotted one bend over and saw she wasn't wearing any knickers! Sharen told me to "drive on, and wind your neck in."

[TomUK]

We were there two weeks ago. Didn't spot any 'ladies' on the N125, but we did see a couiple of them on the N269 heading into Ferreiras. A white van in front of us pulled over and it looked like they may have been in business!

[cereza]

My mate saw one of these ladies on the A22 but she wasn't interested when he said he would pay 3 days later

[TomUK]

[Günni]

My mate saw one of these ladies on the A22 but she wasn't interested when he said he would pay 3 days later

cool, and there is an extra counter at the post office?

[Michael Crane]

.....cool, and there is an extra counter at the post office?

Gives a whole new meaning to an over-the-counter transaction!

[sunman]

I saw a news report yesterday that lots of privately owned Toll Roads in Spain are going bankrupt because the Spanish are all avoiding driving on them; not really new news, the kerbs of cities in Portugal and Spain are riddled with cars whose owners don't want to pay a Euro or two in parking fees;

I see also that there was a fatal crash on the 125 this week, two 60 year old women killed in their Audi,

and on my visit a couple of weeks ago I basically had the A22 to myself West of Faro, and see that they're thinking of reducing the toll charges a bit to encourage drivers back onto the motorway;

I don't know where the line will be drawn but folk will belligerently sit in queues on the 125 rather than part with Euro or 2 on the 22; currently they're getting 100% of nothing from the tolls, there must be a better answer; mine still is to scrap the tolls and increase car tax by 10 Euros, it's ridiculous that hundreds of miles of motorway across Portugal and Spain sit there basically unused.

[cereza]

Quite agree sunman. I never used the A22 once during my recent visit as I had places to visit on the N125 and I noticed just how much less fuel I used due to the slower driving style and the less miles so the savings are not just the tolls !
With unemployment figures of 1 in 3 for southern Spain and the pleas for food handouts it's no wonder that people will save in any way possible and the same will apply to the Algarve. The politicians just haven't got a clue and things will only get worse regretfully resulting in these motorways becoming white elephants

[Bruce Wallis]

I saw a news report yesterday that lots of privately owned Toll Roads in Spain are going bankrupt because the Spanish are all avoiding driving on them; not really new news, the kerbs of cities in Portugal and Spain are riddled with cars whose owners don't want to pay a Euro or two in parking fees;

I see also that there was a fatal crash on the 125 this week, two 60 year old women killed in their Audi,

and on my visit a couple of weeks ago I basically had the A22 to myself West of Faro, and see that they're thinking of reducing the toll charges a bit to encourage drivers back onto the motorway;

I don't know where the line will be drawn but folk will belligerently sit in queues on the 125 rather than part with Euro or 2 on the 22; currently they're getting 100% of nothing from the tolls, there must be a better answer; mine still is to scrap the tolls and increase car tax by 10 Euros, it's ridiculous that hundreds of miles of motorway across Portugal and Spain sit there basically unused.

looking at the way things are going here, they may well increase the road fund tax by 10 euros...AND keep the SCUT tolls!

[laserblazer]

I've used the 125 since the tolls were introduced, simply because of the hassle in paying the tolls. We arrive at 9pm this time, so I think it will be the A22 from a safety point of view.

[joeysoap]

I don't know where the line will be drawn but folk will belligerently sit in queues on the 125 rather than part with Euro or 2 on the 22; currently they're getting 100% of nothing from the tolls, there must be a better answer;

Allowing for the tolls not being scrapped (they won't be) simplest solution is to erect toll booths. This too won't happen. Next solution is to reduce the tolls, not sure what effect this will have as I paid €25 in August on a use it or lose it basis and expect a lot of the rental companies supplying the electronic pass will not reduce their charge. Another simple solution would be to have just have 1 fixed charge regardless of how far you travel on ONE journey. ie same charge for Albufeira as Lagoa, Lagos or wherever. Where you exit is your choice. So if you join the motorway at first junction and STAY on the motorway to say Alcantarilha/Lagoa/Lagos its one journey. every time you exit the motorway that journey is complete and every time you enter the motorway that journey begins. with this system if you be very simple for the toll company to set up a system where you can pre purchase a number of journeys at any pay shop. In Ireland you can pre puchase like this (or if you haven't pre purchased you have 1 day to pay for used journeys)using a non booth toll road. You can purchase any number but of course if you don't use them they are lost as the next driver of the car will have a free journey or two. but it should not be too hard to work out the number required before purchasing. simples. even if I didn't explain it too well!!

[laserblazer]

The question is, visitors like us don't use the A22 because of the hassle paying the toll. Is this what is pushing so many vehicles onto the 125 or is it the cost? If it's the hassle, then they need to simplify payment, if it's the cost then reduce it. Simples.

[sam]

I've used the 125 since the tolls were introduced, simply because of the hassle in paying the tolls. We arrive at 9pm this time, so I think it will be the A22 from a safety point of view.

When I went out at end of August I arrived at about 10.30pm. Used the 125 as hire car did not have a transponder. It was dark, but as I knew where I was going it was fine and not too busy. The plus side to arriving in the dark was that the on junction with poor visibility was better as could see the headlights even if you could not see the cars. So I actually felt safer.

[Bruce Wallis]

At the risk of being even more boringly repetitive......

People, especially holiday makers, dont mind the tolls.....its the ridiculous inconvenience of trying to pay the tolls and getting a straightforward bill.....half hour queues in a post office you cant even park near, or getting a bill at Intermarche that is not only yours, but everything outstanding on that car.

You simply dont need that hassle on a weeks holiday!!

Several holiday makers I know have just said "sod that!", ignored the toll charges all together...and flown home.

I know that somebody will prove me wrong.....but not one of the people I know that has done this, has been chased up, or had money charged retrospectively to their credit cards.

...added to all this......I have just come back from Guia shopping, and witnessed the GNR and Bomberios clearing up the remnants of another serious looking car crash, on the hill up from Alcantrillia.