16 comments

  • Bennett WongBennett Wong, over 7 years ago (edited over 7 years ago )

    Are most toll roads in the US still manual payment? In Australia, or at least NSW, all toll roads are automated. The majority of drivers get sent a little eTag thing they chuck in their car somewhere, and you just drive through the toll without stopping, and at the end of the month you get a totalled invoice which you can pay however you want (online / phone / paypal / local postoffice). It's been the norm for the last 10+ years or so, and manual payment was even phased out in 2010 on most of the major toll roads - if you don't have an e-Tag, you goto a short URL (which is displayed on a big sign after the toll) and pay the regular toll online within a week afterwards.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-TAG

    2 points
    • Pierre de MillyPierre de Milly, over 7 years ago

      In Europe, you just swipe your card and the payment is instant. There are special lanes for cash payments too (where you can pay by card).

      Most lanes also support automated payments through a similar tag. It's even cheaper than paying by card but most people never bother to go online and get it...

      0 points
    • Josh LeeJosh Lee, over 7 years ago

      Ah that's awesome. I think I am mainly looking for a software solution to the hardware I already have in my pocket.

      But there are problems with just using a phone that could die or lose connection or whatever. :)

      Glad you all have been doing it a better way than us Yanks

      2 points
    • Alec LomasAlec Lomas, over 7 years ago

      Some states have a similar solution, but all (I think) are opt-in and come with a small subscription fee in some states. So most of the time, yes, it's manual payment. A third or so of the lanes are electronic/automatic and the rest manual, from what I've seen (my state doesn't have toll roads).

      0 points
  • Daniel ArcherDaniel Archer, over 7 years ago

    Agreed. Apple Maps + Apple Pay should also happen.

    2 points
    • Josh LeeJosh Lee, over 7 years ago

      Yeah, them too. I just never ever use Apple Maps for anything.

      1 point
      • Kyle CaseKyle Case, over 7 years ago

        I have Apple Maps in a folder called "Useless" along with Tips, Find Friends, Contacts, and Newstand.

        0 points
        • Josh LeeJosh Lee, over 7 years ago

          I feel like you and I could be really good friends...

          1 point
        • Daniel ArcherDaniel Archer, over 7 years ago

          Lol I'm finding that I love Apple Maps, especially over competitors Waze and Google Maps. It gets much better in iOS 9 and will automatically calculate new routes to save you time, or give updates on Heavy traffic/closed road, etc (very Waze-like). And Newsstand gets replaced by Apple News too. Contacts and Tips - totally useless.

          1 point
  • Spencer HoltawaySpencer Holtaway, over 7 years ago

    FasTrak already solved this by invoicing the registered owner of any car going through a FasTrak tool without a FasTrak unit: https://www.bayareafastrak.org/en/ggb/crossing.shtml

    However, this could be useful for toll system providers that do not have this fallback.

    1 point
    • Josh LeeJosh Lee, over 7 years ago

      Right but that is only for Golden Gate Bridge.

      0 points
      • Tif Surik, 8 months ago

        Driving is currently less of a problem than avoiding late payment penalties on toll roads. Since I've already experienced it and the consequences are becoming worse, I don't want to do it again. Stopping and other problems can happen even when driving. Downloading a program named Uproad is clearly the simplest approach to avoid this. With its help, I was able to pay the toll on time and easily actually, with only one click of the fare at I-495 Express Lanes . As I was on the way here, I had the opportunity to conveniently pay the toll.

        0 points
  • Pierre de MillyPierre de Milly, over 7 years ago (edited over 7 years ago )

    I find Citymapper way better for public transport/taxi and Apple Maps way faster to load and manipulate and better for driving.

    The last time I used Google Maps was abroad to keep offline maps of Chile...

    Anyone use it?

    1 point
    • Dan GDan G, over 7 years ago

      Me.

      1 point
    • Spencer HoltawaySpencer Holtaway, over 7 years ago

      I prefer "Transit" and "My Bus SF" (because I designed it) but that's because I usually know where I'm going here. Would use Citymapper if I was still in London as things get more complicated when going somewhere new there.

      Apple Maps on iOS 9 is pretty good for transit so far, when the server responds (beta wheee), although it doesn't have nextbus data, yet.

      1 point