Capitalist highway or saving around 45 euros?

[Flower Power]

Just three days ago, while in the Dolomities (thinking that now there will be less tourist - but I was soooo wrong) I had a chat with a French couple from Bayonne which was on the way to Greece in their Renault van. When the conversation touched tool roads fees this nice French lady stated: " We never use tool roads anywhere, I will not pay for greedy capitalist and their tool road invention. We take N roads instead" At first, I just smiled, as an happy owner of "Beep & Go" and even used it a day before in Italy.

However, on the way home to Bavaria, I decided to: skip paid autostrada to the Brenner pass, skip Europa bridge toll, and skip Austrian autobahn vignette by using a small road instead.

AND, I had a much more pleasant trip on a small roads parallel to the freeways. Less traffic, chance to grab the last 1.50 euro espresso in Italia, chance to look up at the bridges with very slow moving trucks, and drive through beautiful Innsbruck. Aha, I estimated also the savings of about 45 euros or a touch less.

Most importantly, I did not pay greedy capitalists for their roads! The way to go from now on (when possible) but I will keep my Bip&Go gadget just in case.

Safe travels to that French couple in the red Renault Traffic van and thanks for their inspiration. (on the day their government collapsed) by I know why now.

 

[SanderR72]

I normally avoid toll roads as well, whenever possible given the timeframe in which I am travelling, I even skip highways completely.

Not because of capitalism by the way, I don’t care that much about the extra euros compared to the diesel cost I’m paying. But indeed because mostly you come across beautiful scenery, small and cosy villages etc.

Sometimes even so small and remote villages that everybody will look at you as if you’re from Mars

 

[colintfcolintf]

I used to work regularly in Turin.
Often flew into Turin, but sometimes Milan
The difference between the Toll Road and non Toll Road between Milan airport and Turin was at most, I found, a 30 minute saving. It was much more scenic and relaxing driving through the little places along the non toll route

 

[willwander]

I generally avoid, unless we need to munch some miles. Prefer horse and cart to those nasty capitalist cars. I’ve also fallen out with them since we just got scammed on a toll road, our emovis bipper was not recognised on the way out and the Mrs panicked at the big queue behind us and the ridiculous French only panic button system, so she used her bank card on the payment thingy and we got charged 45 euros Grrrrr.

 

[Mehdime]

In France, toll-road alternatives are often sign-posted as “Itinéraire Bis” (look for signs with a big “Bis” logo on them). It’s a common thing in France to take l’itinéraire bis if you’re not in a rush and want to enjoy the scenery (although there’s no guarantee that there will be scenery - it’s not the same as the “scenic route” signs you might see in the U.K. & Ireland).

Generally speaking, French people have a very strong anti-establishment and conspiracy theory mindset. So the whole greedy capitalist rant is par for the course there.

But yeah, if you’re not in a rush, it’s generally always nicer to take the alternative roads.