New York State to Eliminate Cash Option for Paying Tolls

Re:New York State to Eliminate Cash Option for Paying Tolls by ArkyBeagle on Thursday October 06, 2016 @05:25PM (#12656243)

The greater Houston area recently expanded its offering of toll roads. The effect is dramatic - it just feels like it's now possible to zip anywhere that's covered. I can only imagine the effect on carbon emissions - it has to be quite positive ( check the EPA estimates for city v. highway - there's a difference ).

However, I still see ( in cases the majority ) pulling over to hit the cash lane.

Are there that many people with credit bad enough to not be eligible for a TXDOT pass? Surely not the majority. Is it because people feel like they're being tracked? Is it some variation on a frugality exercise - sort of Dave Ramsay's "envelope" system? Maybe it's some grumpy expression of discontent with toll roads? So you're gonna sit in line to pay more, cash?

I don't get it.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:New York State to Eliminate Cash Option for Paying Tolls by shwash on Thursday October 06, 2016 @08:05PM (#12657171)

It's a combination of education/credit card access/disposition against toll (EZPass guesses the numbers to pre-fill for you, people on tight budgets can't have $50 randomly disappear from their debit cards). Some people are driving cars they don't own.

There's other stuff that's less acceptable - suspended licenses/old registrations/out of state drivers can't keep their EZ pass up to date. There's also a decent amount of Americans living a cash-mostly lifestyle. Many many americans blackballed from ever having a bank account because they let one go too deep in the red.

[ Parent | on HN ]