John. Thanks for clarifying "from the horses mouth" if you don't object to the expression

All things are possible.

The French moto fraternity had a spectacular protest success many years back by getting Autoroute tolls reduced from 100% of the car rate to about 55%.

My Autoroute toll protest continues.
At manned toll booths - I stop - switch off engine - remove visor - (and helmet, switch off i-pod and remove ear phones or ear plugs, if feeling particularly bloody minded and there are long queues) - smile and go through usual French introductory pleasantries - remove gloves - unzip jacket - unzip overtrouser top - find money in inner trouser pocket - carefully count it out - carefully check change and receipt - put remaining money, change and receipt in inner trouser pocket - zip up over trousers - zip up jacket - replace ear phones/plugs and helmet (if previously removed) - put on gloves - offer my thanks and farewells - adjust visor - start engine - carefully move forward.

It could be slightly faster at the automatic ticket issue machines on entrance - but here I often managed to thwart them by hugging the kerb and avoiding the under road vehicle sensors and have to press the Assistance button and wait for an English speaker - expressing total confusion as to why the machine will not issue a ticket/raise the barrier!
If raining it takes double the time because of wet cold gloves and hands

Hooting from behind of course prompts dismounting (and all that that entails) enquiring looks and searches as to what may be wrong - something loose on the bike? Flat tyre?

Unless I am in a hurry that is, otherwise I enjoy every minute of the long process as a break in the monotony before and after the toll point.

All in the vain hope that one day, if enough motos did the same they might 'get the p r i c k of us' low revenue sources and in the interests of traffic flow (and quicker cash collection) they let solos go free through a dedicated narrow gap.

Over 6 days around Bol d'Or weekend they used to exempt motos on all toll Autoroutes all over France by having a narrow special lane - now (last time there at that time) sadly only on the adjoining autoroutes and for a far shorter period. It was originally felt better for safety and noise reasons to encourage the huge numbers of motos from all over Europe to use Autoroutes instead of other roads through towns and villages - but no longer it seems.

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