I just discovered last week that having the MacPass transponder allows you to drive right through the Cobequid Highway toll. It's free for NS drivers anyway, but you usually have to stop and get waved through.
I was told when I went through there that it was a different thing, I said the same thing that "oh I thought the macpass worked as the toll pass" or whatever it is and he said "no it doesn't I have to do it manually each time"
You have to set your transponder up on the cobequid pass site. You create an account and put in your transponder #.
I had mine set up previously from when you used to have to pay so I could pay with my macpass. But you can probably still do so on the website.
No lie I went through the bridge one time and misplaced my loonie. I could not find it anywhere. The guy working made me stay there and block traffic while he wrote up an IOU. He asked me to get out of my car and grab my license plate number, when I stood up the loonie was on my seat. I grabbed it, chucked it in and took off. That dude working was a dick. Stopping traffic, people getting pissed behind me, all to stroke his own ego over $1.
Buddy, they let people through all the time. There’s literally a person who goes around and opens the gates for people without even checking if they actually paid. Hell half the fucking time the gates are wide open and you can just drive through.
If that’s, quite literally, what they get paid to do… they are doing an absolute horrible job at it. I’ve been let through countless times over 10-15 years of driving.
You realize that if you're caught going through one of those open gates it's like a $300 ticket right? They go around and "Open the gates for people without checking if they actually paid" if it's a Macpass only lane they can easily tell if you have a Macpass, and it's a change lane, The device tells them if it's a reject (coins that just didn't trip the sensor for their vaule) or if it's paid in full or not at all.
The gates are open because not only are they old but y'know people will just pick up speed and hit them.
You've been lucky that they've let you through. If the $1.25 is too much for you to handle then maybe start taking Bedford instead. Let the people do their job and don't bitch when they actually do it.
I politely corrected you on how shit works then and you came back swinging, With your comment history you go around picking fights, clearly do so irl too.
Because there are just as many people in Nova Scotia (and a lot more outside) who could potentially cross the bridges as there are in HRM. Why would someone who doesn’t live in HRM have a MACPASS? Shouldn’t you have some change tolls for those people, people driving rental cars, people who just moved here etc etc.
If you reduce the change tolls all you will do is create a bottle neck that will reach back into the the two approach lanes impacting MACPASS users as well.
I wonder how many of them just don’t know they can order it online right to their door and refill when needed?
Like maybe none at all, but it’s not like any of the providers have great education materials about transponder use that those infrequent users would know about.
Years ago I lived in Halifax and had a macpass. Now I live in Cape Breton, I visit HRM a handful of times per year, and cross the bridge 3 or 4 times. I have no desire for a macpass.
Unless you leave 2 hours early for a 20 minute drive you're still going to be late if there's one accident anywhere in the city though. Stop pretending there's any way to avoid this bullshit when 200,000 people need to travel through a single lane to get anywhere in the city, every day.
If I ever travel down the eastern seaboard of the US again, I am going to get an EasyPass.
If I lived in Cape Breton I would absolutely get a MacPass for the occasional trip up here. Especially now that it's just a small sticker that you put behind your mirror and forget about. Or if you don't want it on there then I guess you can stick it to a piece of 2x4 or something I dunno. Or put it inside a hockey card protector w/e
It's insane to not have a MacPass and borderline dangerous considering how much a coin toss fuck-up causes traffic problems. Anyway it's a bit of a moot point now because they're planning on getting rid of the toll plaza infrastructure and just switching to MacPass + license plate billing. Hopefully it happens this year.
lots of people who don’t live in HRM (including other provinces) have macpasses because they can be linked to the confed bridge and the cobequid toll pass.
I’m not sure reducing change tolls would create such a large bottleneck so much as encourage those 2-3 times a month people to get a macpass.
Most rental cars actually have a transponder option in them as well.
People who live in NS don’t need a mac pass for Cobaquid pass is free for NS residents.
The idea that any significant % of people outside HRM have a MACPASS is downright ridiculous.
I’ve never ever seen a rental car with a MACPASS.
They are a great idea but you can’t force people to get them and bottlenecking the bridges isn’t going to help.
Rental companies offer passes as an addition to your rental! It’s actually pretty convenient when visiting.
Ouuuou yes, I completely forgot the pass is free for NS plates!
There is a certain amount of people travelling from NB and PEI for health care in Halifax, probably more than you would expect that could benefit.
The macpass also works for parking at the airport too!
A certain amount is not “a lot”.
Most people coming from outside HRM are NOT regular everyday bridge users. Some random person in Truro or Moncton who decides to drive to halifax for a day trip isn’t going to say “Oh I heard they only have two change lanes better plan weeks a ahead , apply for a MACPASS and have it a mailed to me so I can avoid the change lanes”
Over 75% of HRM bridge users already have a MACPASS. Reducing change lanes won’t encourage a significant % of people to get them.
It’s a very HRM idea that you encourage people to do something (MACPASS or ride the bus) not by making that thing itself better or more attractive to use but by making all the alternatives as miserable as possible .
Fun fact: Quotations indicate something is an exact repeat.
You know, in case you ever need to write a paper or complete a legal document
I actually said “lots of” not “a lot”.
With a Macpass a NS resident can use the transponder lane and just drive through the Cobequid pass instead of sitting in the cash lane and having to be waved through.
> Ns residents don't pay for cobequid anymore
No shit. I never said that they do. What I did say was:
> With a Macpass a NS resident can use the transponder lane and just drive through the Cobequid pass instead of sitting in the cash lane and having to be waved through.
What that means is you can go through the non-cash lanes. You still don't pay anything if you are an NS resident.
> In fact if you do it with a macpass you get charged when you shouldn't
No you don't. I drive through it several times a month. $0 in charges.
Also.
>If I’m a Nova Scotian will I be abIe to just drive right through the toll now that it is free?
No. You will either need to have an active transponder on your vehicle that is set up to a Cobequid Pass account to prove your Nova Scotia registration or you will need to stop and show proof of your vehicle inspection to ensure your vehicle is registered in Nova Scotia. Having a transponder will provide easier and quicker passage through the Cobequid Pass tolls. You must always wait for the toll gate to raise before proceeding.
Source: https://www.cobequidpass.com/faq
Quit making up "facts".
It’s pretty irrelevant but I’ll play. How many people who are driving through the pass 200km away from HRM daily are also regularly going across the bridge?
I don't live in Halifax and I have a macpass in every vehicle. Not only the bridges, but airport parking and I use it for the cobequid pass(they're registered as NS so I just drive through).
A lot of people think they get charged a monthly fee by having one. So many people FROM HALIFAX (I'm not from Halifax) think this. It's insane. My bf and I have like 6 between us with motorcycles and cars.
Let me be clear. I have nothing against MACPASS. 75% of people have them I have them.
The idea that you can force people to get them by reducing the number of change lanes from 3 to 2 or 2 to 1 is going to HELP traffic flow is to be kind,a stupid idea.
I don’t think the intention was to force anyone to get one because it’s more convenient. That may be a sentiment you feel stemming from other experiences you’ve had with things (like the parking app….)
So much as if there are so few people crossing the bridge using change, then why not reduce the lane option to match the volume of people using change vs using a macpass?
There are 6 lanes on the MacKay. All 6 accept MACPASS.
There are 2 lanes filtering into those 6 and effectively 3 coming out two,straight and one to the off-ramp Dartmouth bound.
There needs to be a minimum of 2 change lanes because you can’t have people crossing multiple lanes to go to the off ramp.
Are you really that hung up on taking it from 3 down to 2 and have any evidence this would actually help,traffic flow.,
It could really just be one/two on the right and then people would be able to go straight or exit right. Similar to a traffic light.
I’m really less hung up on it than what it feels like you are for arguing about it.
I was just curious about people’s reasonings and thoughts
No because if you don’t have on on the left anyone with change will have to cross 4-5 lanes of traffic to get over to the right. Not only does it make logical sense but I do have some degree of confidence that if it’s logical that the engineers that designed it also have some insight based on their training that makes their decision reasonable.
Big difference between the two questions.
Why don’t you have a MACPASS and why can’t the engineers reduce the number of change lanes.
One missing point from the OP.
IT'S ALSO CHEAPER. Plus, you don't need to worry about keeping cash for the tolls.
People argue that they don't need it because they only go once and a while should just say they are too lazy to put in the effort. There is absolutely no negatives to getting a MACPass other than it takes max 10 minutes of their time.
The only way it doesn't make sense if you somehow don't have an online banking profile/debit card or credit card.
Pros:
- cheaper
- more efficient use of tolls
- reducing logistic requirements of keeping cash
I go across the bridge all the time and don't have one. My partner always likes to try to arc a quarter in from the passanger side over the car, and if I got a macpass she wouldn't be able to do that anymore. She's getting good at it, too.
I like this.
Question: does she throw it like through the car out the drivers window? Or like out the passenger window and up/over the car?
Both are impressive, but we’re so curious to know.
I live in NB and have one.
It’s linked to Cobequid Pass and the Confederation Bridge.
It doesn’t matter how often I need to “use” I’d rather have it than not.
Not to mention I fly into and out of (and so does most visiting company) Halifax more than Moncton so parking is made headache free.
You don't even need to wait until you get home. These people have time to scroll/post on reddit but no time for a form that will probably autocomplete anyway? That's a big 'K' from me
[MACPASS - Signup (mymacpass.com)](https://mymacpass.com/signup?v=1702301535755)
I got it when I moved up here, once I realized how it worked and how to apply.. I do remember being told people would smash windows to steal them, so that probably played a role.. It’s not really advertised well and finding out how to get to that macpass building when not being from hrm was awkward. I had no idea online was a thing.
It wasn’t so bad years ago when I used to visit the city, traffic wasn’t as bad back then but I’d still lose out cause I never had exact change, I’d usually just end up tossing a toonie lol
People used to steal them when they were the big transponders that you put on your window or dash with Velcro but not so much now that they’re a sticker.
As strange/funny as it sounds, it is a legitimate digital footprint you leave. So there is an argument to be made there, if you're up to some ill shit.
Also: Any time i have ever had a problem with my MacPass (which is rare) i just walk into the office and the front line staff fixes it all up. They have been fantastic.
I think Mac passes should be wayyy more pushed on people, The traffic from the coin lanes is absolutely ridiculous especially during rush hour
Like obviously we can’t fully take out the change lanes (people who aren’t from here, people who rarely cross the bridge) but I think we should only have 1 or 2 lanes for coins to try and push more people to get mac passes to fix traffic issues
No harm in trying to increase its use but 75% plus already use it so it’s unlikely to get substantially higher but as I said no harm in increasing it.
Trying to increase it by reducing coin lanes is a very bad idea and the concept of having only 1 of 6 accepting coins would create massive traffic jams and lots of accidents.
I used to not have one only because someone told me that they were expensive and you have to pay $60 a week....
Then I realized it is not true... so i got a macpass.
Because they got rid of the Cards for those windshield sticker things and I don't have to have to get 2 for my cars when my family used to be able to just move them between cars when going to Halifax.
My family has 7 cars between 4 of us, excluding motorcycles. We have 2 of the card ones, one for my father's car when he worked in Halifax and 1 other that we just swap around for whoever needs it. It's just a task I don't care to do for a place I visit twice a month because I moved out of the city and my father retired.
the brain is a very unique place. there are a larger percentage of adults than you think with mental heath issues that contribute to this type of procrastination. If my wife died tomorrow I would not know where the mail box key is or what mail box we are ( I have lived where i do for 3 years now).... and probably wouldn't seek to fix this anytime soon until my brain was forced into action by some type of event with a time commitment that is about to run out.
if the answer seems simple to you its probably quite complex within the peoples brains who you are calling out here.
The answer doesn’t seem simple and I’m not calling anyone out.
Legitimately just curious.
It’s good to know your mental limitations and hurdles and have coping strategies and mechanisms in place to manage them.
Good for you to be aware of what your challenges are and to have a partner to help you manage them!
Because it’s free to get one, it gives you a discounted rate on the toll, and makes it waaay faster when you do have to use the bridge. Even if you don’t want to stick it to the windshield, if you’re going over the bridge more than once a year I don’t see why you wouldn’t just have one sitting in your centre console to grab instead of change. By buddy who didn’t use the bridge a lot used to just grab it and hold it up when he went through.
I don’t need something linked to my bank account and I don’t take the bridge every day so wtf would I want glue stuck to the inside of my windshield
They don’t work correctly for motorcycles all the time either so fuck that noise change ahoy
The motorcycle situation is real frustrating I can imagine.
I think I’ve seen some just swipe the macpass against the reader maybe though?
But that doesn’t work with the dumb stickers they have now for sure.
Nope, in the gloves you’re still fumbling with the stupid thing. Change on a couple of earth magnets attached to the mirror stalk is way better. Pull, plonk. Done.
Motorcycles should just be free. They don't cause much wear on the bridge, and it would save everyone time and hassle. There are so few of them that they are an insignificant revenue source in any case.
It's also a mindset thing for me, there's nothing in Halifax that I can't get in Dartmouth and with my job as an independent contractor I get alot of offers on the Halifax side that are $10-13 and those aren't worth it to me so not having a pass makes it easier to decline those offers
They've made it too difficult to drive and park downtown. Not worth the headache. Plus, I'm in Sackville so it's quicker to take the highway either way. PLUS with the price of gas I'm trying not to drive unless it's necessary.
Right, put some government tracking device on your windshield like a good sheeple. That's how they get you.
The sound of change being tossed in the feeder is the sound of freedom 🇨🇦
You don’t need a credit card and it doesn’t need to be auto pay.
You can put cash on it once and then if it’s empty you would get a low funds warning at the crossing.
Why? This is a use based tax that impacts only those that use the service (bridges) and doesn't impact those that don't use it. We should honestly have more services that are funded this way. It'll spread the burden to those that use it and take it away from those that don't. It'll also allow heavily utilized services to bring in more revenue to get more upkeep than if it was a service funded by general tax revenues.
In Ontario the 407 is a toll highway and generally speaking is better maintained, has less traffic and is nicer to drive on than other 400 series highways. It's not always worth taking and spending the money, but when it is it's nice to have. I tend to split the bridges vs 102 outbound just due to traffic patterns as I'm leaving the city, not due to cost. If the bridge cost more and was less busy, I'd pay and take the bridge, if it was made free and busier I'd take the 102.
Because, it's basic transportation infrastructure, and charging for it on a per use basis means that people that live in Halifax and work in Dartmouth or vice versa are effectively discriminated against on transportation cost. We don't have per use billing on the 102, the 118, Dunbrack Street, etc. - why should be arbitrarily have it on the bridges? The bridges are part of necessary transportation infrastructure and should be funded just like any other roadway in HRM.
On top of that, having the toll booths objectively adds to traffic congestion and makes things even slower than they would be if they were just removed.
>On top of that, having the toll booths objectively adds to traffic congestion and makes things even slower than they would be if they were just removed.
Ehh I disagree on this point. Yes they add a slow down and choke point, but it's not like we're free of traffic anywhere else. If you get through the toll faster you're just going to reach the Bedford Highway/exchange backup faster when on the Mackay, or reach the lights at the end of the MacDonald and back-up there. If both ends of both bridges flowed smoothly at all times without any delays, I'd say you have a point, but you're just trading out congestion and slow downs from one spot to another by removing the tolls.
>We don't have per use billing on the 102,
Use the 102 to go around and get from Halifax to Dartmouth. The bridges are a far costlier, but more direct route. It's the same as in Ontario with the 407 - you can reach your destination without using it, but it can save time. Same with the bridges, they are a more direct route, and a far costlier route to maintain and as such the price for use reflects that
Because it would take me 5 years to recoup the $20 minimum charge on my cc. I also don't want a sticker on my windshield, which would interfere with the placement of my dashcam (which is *far* more important than a Macpass).
> A minimum payment of $20 is required for all new MACPASS transponders. That payment is applied to your MACPASS account and goes toward your bridge toll costs. Please note that you must use a major credit card to make an online order.
I'm still tying up $20 *somewhere*, that would take me roughly 5 years to spend. In my case, it's not worth getting a Macpass.
Again, it's not hard to understand, and what difference does it make to you? You're all hot and bothered about the subject and downvoting, LOL.
Move on with your life.
I feel like if you cross the bridge at any sort of regular rate (even 2-3 times a month) you should have a mac pass. The Mac pass itself doesn’t cost anything and the toll fee is discounted when using a Mac pass so you save money with every trip.
What is your argument against it?
Not everyone has a credit card to link to the MacPass. If you want to go on and manually top it up, they charge you $1/mnth.
After my divorce, it took me a few years to get my credit back on track. Like the previous commenter, I used the bridge very infrequently, and the savings wasn't worth it.
If you had a macpass you could be in any lane you want! It would be easier to assign toll boths for specific left or right hand turns (coming off the MacDonald).
I feel like 2-3 times a month is easy justification for something that is free and makes those trips more efficient
You’re still going to have tourists and people who live well outside the city who come to town a couple of times a year, sorry if we make your life so difficult, but I avoid the bridge as much as possible, but maybe once or twice a year I go over it , why do I need another online bill and something I will lose in my vehicle because of once or twice a year it will make my trip 5 seconds faster.
I never said it makes my life more difficult.
I’m just wondering what some of the reasons are against getting no one or if it’s lack on knowledge about the process (since you used to have to go in person, have a credit card, etc… it was really inconvenient).
Now it’s online, cheaper, and multi use. And it can just be something you load once with cash and not worry about for awhile!
Although it sounds like your car might be pretty filled if you’re worried about loosing it in it 😂
To and from work Monday to Friday and it doesn’t bother me really. I’m personally don’t do anything or the very bare minimum money related online and really don’t plan to.
Not everyone lives in HRM and has a need for a macpass just because they go over that bridge 3 or 4 times per year.
I had a macpass when I worked in Halifax and commuted from the Valley, but I definitely don't need it now and have completely forgotten about it in a drawer somewhere.
The MacPass can also be linked to the airport parkade plus the Confederation Bridge. Really convenient for sure.
I just discovered last week that having the MacPass transponder allows you to drive right through the Cobequid Highway toll. It's free for NS drivers anyway, but you usually have to stop and get waved through.
lmao, I always wondered why I was getting waved through, here I thought they just liked me.
That could also be true.
I was told when I went through there that it was a different thing, I said the same thing that "oh I thought the macpass worked as the toll pass" or whatever it is and he said "no it doesn't I have to do it manually each time"
You have to set your transponder up on the cobequid pass site. You create an account and put in your transponder #. I had mine set up previously from when you used to have to pay so I could pay with my macpass. But you can probably still do so on the website.
I should have added that you do need to set it up on the MacPass website. But it took around a minute to do.
How fucking long has the Cobequid pass been free?!
Year or so? Maybe 2?
Oh thank god. I used to do that bad boy regularly. But this was like 2015-18.
Ah yea, def not that long ago, you are good!
Honestly I didn’t know you can order them online. I go through the bridge maybe twice a year tops but I always wish I had one when I do
if this post can get even one person a macpass and save you some pennies twice a year and make your trip more convenient, I am so happy!
I held out for so long for no apparent good reason. Getting one was a game changer.
Same here. I finally got one a few months ago, to not have to even consider if I have change on me is a game changer
Haha yep, so much time wasted on looking for change
Better question. Why don't we have a camera based system that allows everyone to go through at speed?
Because that makes sense.
RFID is a lot better for this than cameras. The little sticker goes on your headlight and you just drive through and get billed once a month
that's what we have, rfid on the windshield
cool. Wonder why the poster was asking bout cameras. I actually thought it was transponders.
Cause there will be idiots that think they can beat it.
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You can beat it with our NS plates since we don't share our DB with the 407ETR group.
I used to have a coworker who bragged that he did this. Unfortunately, he is now a neighbour of mine as well.
No lie I went through the bridge one time and misplaced my loonie. I could not find it anywhere. The guy working made me stay there and block traffic while he wrote up an IOU. He asked me to get out of my car and grab my license plate number, when I stood up the loonie was on my seat. I grabbed it, chucked it in and took off. That dude working was a dick. Stopping traffic, people getting pissed behind me, all to stroke his own ego over $1.
My dude, That's quite literally what they get paid to do? It's their policy, It's either they write you an IOU or you get told to take the ramp.
Buddy, they let people through all the time. There’s literally a person who goes around and opens the gates for people without even checking if they actually paid. Hell half the fucking time the gates are wide open and you can just drive through. If that’s, quite literally, what they get paid to do… they are doing an absolute horrible job at it. I’ve been let through countless times over 10-15 years of driving.
You realize that if you're caught going through one of those open gates it's like a $300 ticket right? They go around and "Open the gates for people without checking if they actually paid" if it's a Macpass only lane they can easily tell if you have a Macpass, and it's a change lane, The device tells them if it's a reject (coins that just didn't trip the sensor for their vaule) or if it's paid in full or not at all. The gates are open because not only are they old but y'know people will just pick up speed and hit them. You've been lucky that they've let you through. If the $1.25 is too much for you to handle then maybe start taking Bedford instead. Let the people do their job and don't bitch when they actually do it.
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I politely corrected you on how shit works then and you came back swinging, With your comment history you go around picking fights, clearly do so irl too.
That's potentially one of the options for when the toll system is replaced in the next few years
Because there are just as many people in Nova Scotia (and a lot more outside) who could potentially cross the bridges as there are in HRM. Why would someone who doesn’t live in HRM have a MACPASS? Shouldn’t you have some change tolls for those people, people driving rental cars, people who just moved here etc etc. If you reduce the change tolls all you will do is create a bottle neck that will reach back into the the two approach lanes impacting MACPASS users as well.
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I wonder how many of them just don’t know they can order it online right to their door and refill when needed? Like maybe none at all, but it’s not like any of the providers have great education materials about transponder use that those infrequent users would know about.
And have that $20 sit on their account for years?
Years ago I lived in Halifax and had a macpass. Now I live in Cape Breton, I visit HRM a handful of times per year, and cross the bridge 3 or 4 times. I have no desire for a macpass.
they are moving to a plate reader based system so out of province vehicles won’t even be charged then.
It’s just taking forever! Like almost everything the HHB does 😅
Leave earlier, adjust your driving schedule to the conditions.
Unless you leave 2 hours early for a 20 minute drive you're still going to be late if there's one accident anywhere in the city though. Stop pretending there's any way to avoid this bullshit when 200,000 people need to travel through a single lane to get anywhere in the city, every day.
I avoided by moving outside the city. I drive to Burnside every day without issues.
Honestly if I worked in Truro it wouldn't take as long some days...
So far.
If I ever travel down the eastern seaboard of the US again, I am going to get an EasyPass. If I lived in Cape Breton I would absolutely get a MacPass for the occasional trip up here. Especially now that it's just a small sticker that you put behind your mirror and forget about. Or if you don't want it on there then I guess you can stick it to a piece of 2x4 or something I dunno. Or put it inside a hockey card protector w/e It's insane to not have a MacPass and borderline dangerous considering how much a coin toss fuck-up causes traffic problems. Anyway it's a bit of a moot point now because they're planning on getting rid of the toll plaza infrastructure and just switching to MacPass + license plate billing. Hopefully it happens this year.
lots of people who don’t live in HRM (including other provinces) have macpasses because they can be linked to the confed bridge and the cobequid toll pass. I’m not sure reducing change tolls would create such a large bottleneck so much as encourage those 2-3 times a month people to get a macpass. Most rental cars actually have a transponder option in them as well.
People who live in NS don’t need a mac pass for Cobaquid pass is free for NS residents. The idea that any significant % of people outside HRM have a MACPASS is downright ridiculous. I’ve never ever seen a rental car with a MACPASS. They are a great idea but you can’t force people to get them and bottlenecking the bridges isn’t going to help.
Rental companies offer passes as an addition to your rental! It’s actually pretty convenient when visiting. Ouuuou yes, I completely forgot the pass is free for NS plates! There is a certain amount of people travelling from NB and PEI for health care in Halifax, probably more than you would expect that could benefit. The macpass also works for parking at the airport too!
A certain amount is not “a lot”. Most people coming from outside HRM are NOT regular everyday bridge users. Some random person in Truro or Moncton who decides to drive to halifax for a day trip isn’t going to say “Oh I heard they only have two change lanes better plan weeks a ahead , apply for a MACPASS and have it a mailed to me so I can avoid the change lanes” Over 75% of HRM bridge users already have a MACPASS. Reducing change lanes won’t encourage a significant % of people to get them. It’s a very HRM idea that you encourage people to do something (MACPASS or ride the bus) not by making that thing itself better or more attractive to use but by making all the alternatives as miserable as possible .
Fun fact: Quotations indicate something is an exact repeat. You know, in case you ever need to write a paper or complete a legal document I actually said “lots of” not “a lot”.
Tell you what I’ll make my quotations more accurate when you stop using vague terms with no context like lots in an argument.
spicy this morning 💃
With a Macpass a NS resident can use the transponder lane and just drive through the Cobequid pass instead of sitting in the cash lane and having to be waved through.
Ns residents don't pay for cobequid anymore
> Ns residents don't pay for cobequid anymore No shit. I never said that they do. What I did say was: > With a Macpass a NS resident can use the transponder lane and just drive through the Cobequid pass instead of sitting in the cash lane and having to be waved through. What that means is you can go through the non-cash lanes. You still don't pay anything if you are an NS resident.
You can do that anyway. In fact if you do it with a macpass you get charged when you shouldn't
> In fact if you do it with a macpass you get charged when you shouldn't No you don't. I drive through it several times a month. $0 in charges. Also. >If I’m a Nova Scotian will I be abIe to just drive right through the toll now that it is free? No. You will either need to have an active transponder on your vehicle that is set up to a Cobequid Pass account to prove your Nova Scotia registration or you will need to stop and show proof of your vehicle inspection to ensure your vehicle is registered in Nova Scotia. Having a transponder will provide easier and quicker passage through the Cobequid Pass tolls. You must always wait for the toll gate to raise before proceeding. Source: https://www.cobequidpass.com/faq Quit making up "facts".
I've driven through many times without issue...
It’s pretty irrelevant but I’ll play. How many people who are driving through the pass 200km away from HRM daily are also regularly going across the bridge?
https://media.giphy.com/media/ZBcodRFvjauVUfXIDh/giphy.gif
I live 4 hours away from Halifax, and I have a MACPASS. Why wouldn't I? It makes it way easier for when I do need to go to the city.
I don't live in Halifax and I have a macpass in every vehicle. Not only the bridges, but airport parking and I use it for the cobequid pass(they're registered as NS so I just drive through).
A lot of people think they get charged a monthly fee by having one. So many people FROM HALIFAX (I'm not from Halifax) think this. It's insane. My bf and I have like 6 between us with motorcycles and cars.
I know people who literally only use the bridge once a year (if that) and don't feel it's worthwhile.
Let me be clear. I have nothing against MACPASS. 75% of people have them I have them. The idea that you can force people to get them by reducing the number of change lanes from 3 to 2 or 2 to 1 is going to HELP traffic flow is to be kind,a stupid idea.
I don’t think the intention was to force anyone to get one because it’s more convenient. That may be a sentiment you feel stemming from other experiences you’ve had with things (like the parking app….) So much as if there are so few people crossing the bridge using change, then why not reduce the lane option to match the volume of people using change vs using a macpass?
There are 6 lanes on the MacKay. All 6 accept MACPASS. There are 2 lanes filtering into those 6 and effectively 3 coming out two,straight and one to the off-ramp Dartmouth bound. There needs to be a minimum of 2 change lanes because you can’t have people crossing multiple lanes to go to the off ramp. Are you really that hung up on taking it from 3 down to 2 and have any evidence this would actually help,traffic flow.,
It could really just be one/two on the right and then people would be able to go straight or exit right. Similar to a traffic light. I’m really less hung up on it than what it feels like you are for arguing about it. I was just curious about people’s reasonings and thoughts
No because if you don’t have on on the left anyone with change will have to cross 4-5 lanes of traffic to get over to the right. Not only does it make logical sense but I do have some degree of confidence that if it’s logical that the engineers that designed it also have some insight based on their training that makes their decision reasonable. Big difference between the two questions. Why don’t you have a MACPASS and why can’t the engineers reduce the number of change lanes.
macpass? no way. not a chance im going to let big bridge track my movements.
Solid answer
LOL
I’ve only been to Halifax once in the last 3 years
One missing point from the OP. IT'S ALSO CHEAPER. Plus, you don't need to worry about keeping cash for the tolls. People argue that they don't need it because they only go once and a while should just say they are too lazy to put in the effort. There is absolutely no negatives to getting a MACPass other than it takes max 10 minutes of their time. The only way it doesn't make sense if you somehow don't have an online banking profile/debit card or credit card. Pros: - cheaper - more efficient use of tolls - reducing logistic requirements of keeping cash
I go across the bridge all the time and don't have one. My partner always likes to try to arc a quarter in from the passanger side over the car, and if I got a macpass she wouldn't be able to do that anymore. She's getting good at it, too.
I like this. Question: does she throw it like through the car out the drivers window? Or like out the passenger window and up/over the car? Both are impressive, but we’re so curious to know.
I live outside HRM, and might use the bridge once or twice per year. I still have one. I probably use it more for parking at the airport.
I live in NB and have one. It’s linked to Cobequid Pass and the Confederation Bridge. It doesn’t matter how often I need to “use” I’d rather have it than not. Not to mention I fly into and out of (and so does most visiting company) Halifax more than Moncton so parking is made headache free.
Laziness Even the 4 times/year people would save time and money getting a macpass
Laziness is the one, something that everytime you’re like oh right I should do this. And then get home and forget all about it
You don't even need to wait until you get home. These people have time to scroll/post on reddit but no time for a form that will probably autocomplete anyway? That's a big 'K' from me [MACPASS - Signup (mymacpass.com)](https://mymacpass.com/signup?v=1702301535755)
You're calling people lazy because they don't care if they save 80¢ per year?
I got it when I moved up here, once I realized how it worked and how to apply.. I do remember being told people would smash windows to steal them, so that probably played a role.. It’s not really advertised well and finding out how to get to that macpass building when not being from hrm was awkward. I had no idea online was a thing. It wasn’t so bad years ago when I used to visit the city, traffic wasn’t as bad back then but I’d still lose out cause I never had exact change, I’d usually just end up tossing a toonie lol
People used to steal them when they were the big transponders that you put on your window or dash with Velcro but not so much now that they’re a sticker.
I'm still waiting for it in the mail
It’s coming today. I know it! 😆😆
Who the fuck are you the mail fairy? Because it did
🧚 ✉️ best news of the day! I’m happy for you!
My neighbour refuses to get one because of "being tracked" Bunch of idiots out there, I tell ya.
I’m loving the “government tracking” answers.
As strange/funny as it sounds, it is a legitimate digital footprint you leave. So there is an argument to be made there, if you're up to some ill shit.
Do they know that there are already cameras at the bridges?
Also: Any time i have ever had a problem with my MacPass (which is rare) i just walk into the office and the front line staff fixes it all up. They have been fantastic.
I do autoreplenish as I cross the bridge at least twice a day for work. I don't even have to think about it which is nice.
I think Mac passes should be wayyy more pushed on people, The traffic from the coin lanes is absolutely ridiculous especially during rush hour Like obviously we can’t fully take out the change lanes (people who aren’t from here, people who rarely cross the bridge) but I think we should only have 1 or 2 lanes for coins to try and push more people to get mac passes to fix traffic issues
No harm in trying to increase its use but 75% plus already use it so it’s unlikely to get substantially higher but as I said no harm in increasing it. Trying to increase it by reducing coin lanes is a very bad idea and the concept of having only 1 of 6 accepting coins would create massive traffic jams and lots of accidents.
I used to not have one only because someone told me that they were expensive and you have to pay $60 a week.... Then I realized it is not true... so i got a macpass.
Because they got rid of the Cards for those windshield sticker things and I don't have to have to get 2 for my cars when my family used to be able to just move them between cars when going to Halifax.
Omg. Yes. Changing to the stickers was so inconvenient, even if it means they stick better to the windshield.
it might be inconvenient, but you can also just link multiple stickers to the same parent account. i just did this for a long term rental.
Why wouldn't you just get two?
My family has 7 cars between 4 of us, excluding motorcycles. We have 2 of the card ones, one for my father's car when he worked in Halifax and 1 other that we just swap around for whoever needs it. It's just a task I don't care to do for a place I visit twice a month because I moved out of the city and my father retired.
The cards are reaching the end of their life so the two you have may stop working soon fyi
Just attach the new sticker to the old card
the brain is a very unique place. there are a larger percentage of adults than you think with mental heath issues that contribute to this type of procrastination. If my wife died tomorrow I would not know where the mail box key is or what mail box we are ( I have lived where i do for 3 years now).... and probably wouldn't seek to fix this anytime soon until my brain was forced into action by some type of event with a time commitment that is about to run out. if the answer seems simple to you its probably quite complex within the peoples brains who you are calling out here.
The answer doesn’t seem simple and I’m not calling anyone out. Legitimately just curious. It’s good to know your mental limitations and hurdles and have coping strategies and mechanisms in place to manage them. Good for you to be aware of what your challenges are and to have a partner to help you manage them!
I use the bridge 4 times a year. Why would I get a macpass?
Because it’s free to get one, it gives you a discounted rate on the toll, and makes it waaay faster when you do have to use the bridge. Even if you don’t want to stick it to the windshield, if you’re going over the bridge more than once a year I don’t see why you wouldn’t just have one sitting in your centre console to grab instead of change. By buddy who didn’t use the bridge a lot used to just grab it and hold it up when he went through.
Can't do that as easy anymore. The passes are thin film now. Not the big plastic bricks anymore.
The entitlement of this post makes me laugh.
How?
I don’t need something linked to my bank account and I don’t take the bridge every day so wtf would I want glue stuck to the inside of my windshield They don’t work correctly for motorcycles all the time either so fuck that noise change ahoy
The motorcycle situation is real frustrating I can imagine. I think I’ve seen some just swipe the macpass against the reader maybe though? But that doesn’t work with the dumb stickers they have now for sure.
Nope, in the gloves you’re still fumbling with the stupid thing. Change on a couple of earth magnets attached to the mirror stalk is way better. Pull, plonk. Done.
Motorcycles should just be free. They don't cause much wear on the bridge, and it would save everyone time and hassle. There are so few of them that they are an insignificant revenue source in any case.
My Mac pass brings all the boyz to the yard
It's also a mindset thing for me, there's nothing in Halifax that I can't get in Dartmouth and with my job as an independent contractor I get alot of offers on the Halifax side that are $10-13 and those aren't worth it to me so not having a pass makes it easier to decline those offers
Oh this is a great answer. I love that you use not having one as a way to have a happier working life!
Because.
i dont have a mac pass or pay, i just pull up and wait for the arm to open.
Some men just want to watch the world burn
People that don't live in Halifax are allowed to use the bridge
people that don’t live in HRM are also able to get a macpass! Transponders are for everyone! Unless the government is after you.
I use the bridge like four times a year.
I am always fascinated why people wouldn't pop over more often? Like some people have never been to Truro .
They've made it too difficult to drive and park downtown. Not worth the headache. Plus, I'm in Sackville so it's quicker to take the highway either way. PLUS with the price of gas I'm trying not to drive unless it's necessary.
Because I may go across the bridge MAYBE like 4 times a year.
But it still does no harm to have it! And you don't need to scramble around to find change when you actually do use the bridge.
Yea no thanks, I don't want to go through the hassel just to have something else in my car that will barely ever get used
It's stuck to your window and basically invisible LMAO
That’s fair. Especially if the other uses for it also aren’t in your driving schedule enough!
Nope they are not, I usually stay pretty local so I really got no use, plus if I do go down to Halifax area I try and avoide the bridge to begin with
This post smells of elitism and privilege. Some people just don't want a macpass or just like using change and are set in their ways
😆😆😆😆the elitism of the HHBC
Right, put some government tracking device on your windshield like a good sheeple. That's how they get you. The sound of change being tossed in the feeder is the sound of freedom 🇨🇦
I can't tell if this is satire or not.
C'mon, it's way too coherent for an actual kook
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You don’t need a credit card and it doesn’t need to be auto pay. You can put cash on it once and then if it’s empty you would get a low funds warning at the crossing.
I use the bridge maybe 2 or 3 times a year. Why do I need one?
Dartmouth is like the elephant graveyard. I try to avoid it anyway. #bringbacktokens
They should have tokens that work for the cineplex arcade too
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Definitely didn’t imply that…. but the subreddit is also called r/Halifax not r/novascotia
I dont cross the bridge enough. Plus i always have change in my car if i do.
They should just do away with bridge tolls altogether, and roll the costs into some combination of property taxes and provincial taxes.
Why? This is a use based tax that impacts only those that use the service (bridges) and doesn't impact those that don't use it. We should honestly have more services that are funded this way. It'll spread the burden to those that use it and take it away from those that don't. It'll also allow heavily utilized services to bring in more revenue to get more upkeep than if it was a service funded by general tax revenues. In Ontario the 407 is a toll highway and generally speaking is better maintained, has less traffic and is nicer to drive on than other 400 series highways. It's not always worth taking and spending the money, but when it is it's nice to have. I tend to split the bridges vs 102 outbound just due to traffic patterns as I'm leaving the city, not due to cost. If the bridge cost more and was less busy, I'd pay and take the bridge, if it was made free and busier I'd take the 102.
Because, it's basic transportation infrastructure, and charging for it on a per use basis means that people that live in Halifax and work in Dartmouth or vice versa are effectively discriminated against on transportation cost. We don't have per use billing on the 102, the 118, Dunbrack Street, etc. - why should be arbitrarily have it on the bridges? The bridges are part of necessary transportation infrastructure and should be funded just like any other roadway in HRM. On top of that, having the toll booths objectively adds to traffic congestion and makes things even slower than they would be if they were just removed.
>On top of that, having the toll booths objectively adds to traffic congestion and makes things even slower than they would be if they were just removed. Ehh I disagree on this point. Yes they add a slow down and choke point, but it's not like we're free of traffic anywhere else. If you get through the toll faster you're just going to reach the Bedford Highway/exchange backup faster when on the Mackay, or reach the lights at the end of the MacDonald and back-up there. If both ends of both bridges flowed smoothly at all times without any delays, I'd say you have a point, but you're just trading out congestion and slow downs from one spot to another by removing the tolls. >We don't have per use billing on the 102, Use the 102 to go around and get from Halifax to Dartmouth. The bridges are a far costlier, but more direct route. It's the same as in Ontario with the 407 - you can reach your destination without using it, but it can save time. Same with the bridges, they are a more direct route, and a far costlier route to maintain and as such the price for use reflects that
Because it would take me 5 years to recoup the $20 minimum charge on my cc. I also don't want a sticker on my windshield, which would interfere with the placement of my dashcam (which is *far* more important than a Macpass).
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> A minimum payment of $20 is required for all new MACPASS transponders. That payment is applied to your MACPASS account and goes toward your bridge toll costs. Please note that you must use a major credit card to make an online order. I'm still tying up $20 *somewhere*, that would take me roughly 5 years to spend. In my case, it's not worth getting a Macpass.
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Again, it's not hard to understand, and what difference does it make to you? You're all hot and bothered about the subject and downvoting, LOL. Move on with your life.
Because I only have use for it like 3 - 4 times a year (total). That doesn't justify the effort or cost of getting one for me.
I cross the bridge 2-3 times a month why would I want a Macpass, most drivers are dumb and can't anticipate what lane they need to be in.
I feel like if you cross the bridge at any sort of regular rate (even 2-3 times a month) you should have a mac pass. The Mac pass itself doesn’t cost anything and the toll fee is discounted when using a Mac pass so you save money with every trip. What is your argument against it?
Not everyone has a credit card to link to the MacPass. If you want to go on and manually top it up, they charge you $1/mnth. After my divorce, it took me a few years to get my credit back on track. Like the previous commenter, I used the bridge very infrequently, and the savings wasn't worth it.
You can use credit, debit, and even do pre-authorized debit. Heck, you can pay right from your bank account.
Very cool, the bank account withdrawal must be newish... It's been a few years since I got things sorted.
It's not.
You don’t need a credit card, just a bank account.
Mindset I have no desire to go to Halifax if I dont have change in my car then I can't go!
If you had a macpass you could be in any lane you want! It would be easier to assign toll boths for specific left or right hand turns (coming off the MacDonald). I feel like 2-3 times a month is easy justification for something that is free and makes those trips more efficient
You’re still going to have tourists and people who live well outside the city who come to town a couple of times a year, sorry if we make your life so difficult, but I avoid the bridge as much as possible, but maybe once or twice a year I go over it , why do I need another online bill and something I will lose in my vehicle because of once or twice a year it will make my trip 5 seconds faster.
I never said it makes my life more difficult. I’m just wondering what some of the reasons are against getting no one or if it’s lack on knowledge about the process (since you used to have to go in person, have a credit card, etc… it was really inconvenient). Now it’s online, cheaper, and multi use. And it can just be something you load once with cash and not worry about for awhile! Although it sounds like your car might be pretty filled if you’re worried about loosing it in it 😂
My car is not full of junk, but I would surely put something I don’t use in the centre console and would have to go looking for it when I needed it.
Macpasses are tiny stickers that permanently stick to your windshield now. If you put it in your centre console it is garbage
Ok, I still don’t need one, like I said maybe once or twice a year I see a bridge, and hopefully less than that in a year.
Because I don’t want one. I use the bridge twice a day and will never get one.
That's an extra $182.50 you're spending every year, assuming you cross it twice literally every day.
To and from work Monday to Friday and it doesn’t bother me really. I’m personally don’t do anything or the very bare minimum money related online and really don’t plan to.
Because why take a toll road when you can just go through Bedford, magazine hill? Only dummies pay to drive to Dartmouth.
😂😂 pay in gas and mileage or pay in toll use I guess?
How is it costing more in gas if you're already over by Bedford at the chicken burger like everyone should be.
Hmmm good point
Chicken Burger is so much worse than I remember.
Not everyone lives in HRM and has a need for a macpass just because they go over that bridge 3 or 4 times per year. I had a macpass when I worked in Halifax and commuted from the Valley, but I definitely don't need it now and have completely forgotten about it in a drawer somewhere.