Andrew Hamilton answers your queries
From AJ McAllister, Malahide:
If motorways are designed to speed traffic from point A to B, one has to question why the West Link and the M1 toll stations persist in demanding fees from motor cyclists.
Last week at Drogheda, I spent at least three minutes patiently waiting behind a biker while he went through the routine of searching for the miserable 80 cent toll.
First he stopped the bike, switched off the engine and placed it on its stand. Then he dismounted and began unzipping jacket and gloves to retrieve a wallet from an inside pocket.
When the fee was paid and the barrier raised, I had to wait patiently while he reversed the procedure by returning his wallet to his inside pocket.
He then put his gloves back on, zipped up his jacket and sleeves, remounted the bike and rode off. While this routine was taking place, at least 10 cars passed smoothly through the adjoining booth.
I don't blame bikers. After all they are advised to wear heavy protective clothing. However, I do blame the National Roads Authority (NRA) and West Link toll operators whose lust for cash is surely set-off by the paltry amounts they collect from our two-wheel brethren.
I know the East Link has wisely dedicated a toll-free lane to bikers. Surely the same logic should apply elsewhere?
Tony McClafferty, managing director of National Toll Roads, responded: "We aren't comparing like with like, taking East Link and West Link. When East Link was built, it came under the by-laws of the old Dublin Corporation, now Dublin City Council, and from the beginning, the decision of that authority through its by-laws was that bikes would be toll-free.
"West Link is on a motorway, the M50, and it came under the by-laws of the old Dublin County Council. Different rules apply for motorways and motor cycles must be over a certain cc.
"As a company, we don't have any influence on the by-laws. They are set down and we apply them. The same applies at Drogheda on the M1. We are the temporary operator of the toll franchise there and we work under the by-laws of the NRA in this instance.
"Many bikers come through our West Link and Drogheda toll plazas, often in groups, and we haven't really had any undue delays."
Ann Murphy, Goatstown, Dublin: I'm astounded that there is no rest or service station area on our longest motorway, the 50-mile M1 stretch from Dublin to Dundalk. Do the authorities not think of the needs of motorists, especially those with very young children, who might need to make a bathroom stop.
When we drove to Belfast on this section on a recent Sunday, we saw two cars with young children stopped on the hard shoulder and the children were making themselves comfortable as best they could and in fairly exposed circumstances. A less appealing sight was the urinating antics of a minibus of young fellows.
What about also the possibility of running out of fuel. A service station with a café and toilets is surely a necessaity.
This situation is under review, says Caroline O'Brien for NRA. "The fact is, however, we don't have long motorways here such as there are in Britain, and there are plenty of exit opportunities. As our motorway network grows and motorway journeys get longer, it's likely we will provide opportunities for rest and refuelling."
Caroline agrees that public urination isn't a pretty sight, though familiar enough in our bigger cities late at night. "The NRA can't he held responsible for public order offences," she very properly adds.
Philip Lambert, Dublin:
I'm a very unhappy customer of Stillorgan Renault. Less than two weeks ago, I did a deal for a new 1.6 litre Megane Touring, trading in a Laguna. I was told that I could expect delivery within two or three weeks.
Then I got a phone call from the salesman. He said he was dreading making the call, which was to tell me that Renault had a major problem and there would be no 1.6 Touring until November.
Now I'm going to have to wait until 2004 and the delay is adding €2,500 to the cost of my trade deal.
Andy Murray from Renault Distributors: "We have to apologise to Mr Lambert and other customers. There was a misunderstanding and we didn't have supply. We are doing the best we can to offer other options and we will try to see that Mr Lambert gets our best customer attention."
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