“Half wheels #half toll” continues its “battle”

“Half wheels #half toll” – Motorcycling continues its battle to demand that motorcyclists pay half the rate of motorway tolls compared to cars. The “Half wheels #half toll” initiative made a stop at EICMA, the Motorcycle Show held in Rho from 10 to 13 November.

The public proved to be very sensitive to the topic and 37.000 signatures were obtained for the petition. The objective is to reach 50.000 subscriptions in a short time to solicit the attention of Minister Graziano Delrio and political representatives and, in the future, hope for a legislative change. There are 4.780.000 motorbikes and scooters over 125cc potentially traveling on the motorway. “The project was born because the magazine became the spokesperson for the discontent of its readers and of all Italian motorcyclists who, compared to European users (and many non-Europeans), are penalized when it comes to motorway transit.” declares Federico Aliverti, director of Motociclismo – “The campaign started in June 2016 in conjunction with the investigation and interview with the Hon. Vincenzo Garofalo (Vice President Chamber Transport Commission and President of the Parliamentary Intergroup of Friends of the Two Wheels) who has supported us from the beginning and also presented a resolution to the commission. And the collection of signatures began in July. We hope that the petition can be transformed into a concrete legislative initiative".

Since 1 January 1991, with interministerial decree 2691 of 19/12/1990, in Italy the toll is paid based on the gauge axes. Since both cars and motorbikes have two axles, both categories pay the same amount. Before that date, two wheels represented a class of their own. Motorcycling in collaboration with Confindustria Ancma, the National Association of Motorcycles and Accessories, and FMI, the Italian Motorcycle Federation, asks the competent Ministries and primarily that of Transport to review these criteria and re-establish the toll dedicated only to motorcycles and scooters, as it already exists for vans, trucks and articulated vehicles.

In France, Portugal, Greece, Austria, Slovenia, Norway the law is already in favor of motorbikes. Basically, the only other country like Italy is Spain. On 7 October the first 30.000 signatures were delivered to the Honorable Deputy Minister of Transport Riccardo Nencini during a memorable event on the Mugello Circuit. Over 400 motorcyclists crowded the press room, followed a symbolic lap of the track which concluded with the delivery of the trunk with the signatures to the Honorable Member representing the political party. Today the image supporting the campaign has also become a fluorescent sticker distributed to supporters through the over 100 dealers throughout Italy participating in the initiative and at motorcycle events.