The Ohio Turnpike Commission is out to rape anyone that doesn't use their new EZ-Pass system (in effect Oct. 1). Those that don't use the new system will be paying upwards of 50% more than those that have the little transponder things. And on top of this, even if you do purchase a transponder, you'll get charged a 75 cent monthly service fee regardless if you use the turnpike or not!

So if you're going to be traveling across the State of Ohio, you might want to use a more scenic route.

toledoblade.com --


And if you don't have a credit card, you won't be able to participate in EZ-Pass.

And I know...you're all thinking "Andrew hates anything technology..." Well, I don't have a credit card (not for the reason you may be thinking of), so I guess I'll be bending over and grabbing my ankles every time I exit the Turnpike after October 1st.

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Is the Ohio Turnpike labeled as such on maps, or is it part of I-90?
I'm driving to Cedar Point on on the 2nd, and most of the trip through Ohio is 1-90.

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ThrillNetwork Moderator
The user formerly known as WildeFyre
UOIT Mechanical Engineering Student

Over here in they Bay Area we use "Fast Pass" which is a similar device that uses a transponder as you drive through. Commuters are encouraged to use it because its cheaper than paying with cash and you can just drive right through.

So yes, this is another "Andrew hates technology thread". From what I understand and when I compare it to the Fast Pass system that's been successful here in the Bay Area, seems like they are just pushing it more for your convenience sake.

This is a bunch of bull. See, the problem here is that the system relies solely on credit cards. There's no option to pre-pay with cash or debit. I don't use a credit card, and neither do my parents (because they overextended in the past), so we're basically excluded from getting an EZ Pass. Therefore, we'll be forced to pay more, all because we're actually trying to be responsible with money. How the hell does that make sense?

And yes, I-90 is the Ohio Turnpike.

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I like the conveinence of these devices. Illinois has had the I-Pass for years. The problem with them that I don't like is that cash users pay more. That's fine if you have the device but what if you don't. Sure, you can get the device in the state you live since that makes sense but what about other states? I'm not going to go through the hassle of getting the device in Ohio and any other state that uses them in order to save money.

So in the end, I'm forced to pay more in other states that I might travel through on vacation. It's not really fair to tourists visiting a state who are already bringing in money via hotel and other travel related expenses.

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YOUR HATRED AMUSES ME

Except that you can be responsible with a Credit Card. I have two with large credit limits, but guess what? I'm responsible with them. Imagine that?

I'm not trying to be a smartass here, but to me it seems like the EZ-Pass system is trying to make it more convenient for drivers, but the few that for some reason or another refuse to have a credit card are crying foul for their own personal preferences.

People, just get a credit card. You can't get anywhere in life without an established line of credit.

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Wait, I thought I-80 was the Ohio Turnpike?

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ThrillNetwork Lead Moderator (Originally known as Hurricane)

It's time to play some DEFENSE!

Jimmy, when I go to Cedar Point, I take 90 but at some point either in Indiana or maybe Ohio but I think it's sooner, they (90 and 80) merge and are the same road for a long distance. I think they finally seperate outside of Ohio.

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YOUR HATRED AMUSES ME

I with Jimmy thought Route 80 Ohio was the Ohio Turnpike and 90 just happens to merge into it.
Andrew I think the monthly fee for EZ Pass for NJ/PA is $1 and that's what turns my parents off to it. My father has to cross a toll bridge everyday to Pennsylvania to go to work and won't get it because of the monthly charge. I wasn't sure but I thought I read on the NY Thruway I could get their EZ Pass without a monthly charge. I just don't go into Pennsy daily, maybe to Philly once every two weeks so I don't see the need for EZ Pass for myself. It's nice when my uncle offers to let me use his when I come over to his house in NY and go even up to New England. My car came with the velcro mounts for it already on the windshield. Massachusetts whores it up with Citizens Bank sponsoring their Fast Pass.

We could just be like California right? They don't really have tolls from what I recall driving around in that state.

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Thrillnetwork Moderator - Sophomore Original sn: CHILLERLC1
2008 & 2009 TN Coaster Draft Champion
You knew I wanted the other repeat too

Yes, I know that people can be responsible with one, but my parents (and others) let it get out of hand in the past and are still paying off debt. If they charge any more on a credit card they'd just be digging themselves deeper into debt, so they don't use credit cards unless absolutely necessary until their credit doesn't look like an old jalopy. The problem with this whole thing is that people who are in debt are being forced to either pay more with cash, or hurt their credit even more than it already is by using the pass. It's a lose-lose situation.

As for myself, I do have a credit card, I just don't like to use it. I'm trying to ease into the whole credit thing, so I don't end up like my parents.

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I applaud you Magnum. Suzie Orman talks about responsibility, debts all the time. My mother lives her mantras. I'm suspended from my cards til the beginning of next year, not charging any more. My Southern Rock Tour kind of pushed my limits. I need to recover now. I like the idea: charge only what you can repay but I over extended myself.

Our Ohio Turnpike answer: http://www.ohioturnpike.org/travelers/map/

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Thrillnetwork Moderator - Sophomore Original sn: CHILLERLC1
2008 & 2009 TN Coaster Draft Champion
You knew I wanted the other repeat too

My credit is good enough for some things, but not good enough to be issued a card, so its not me being against technology. I would buy into this if I wasn't charged a monthly service fee. It's just as bad as credit cards that charge you an annual fee whether you use them or not. That's what really bugs me, is the monthly service fee for a device I would use on 4 or 5 round trips a year.

Now, regarding the 80/90 mystery, as you cross over from Indiana to Ohio, I-80 and I-90 travel the same stretch of road. I-90 splits itself off from I-80 in Elyria Twp about mile marker 142. I-80 the carries the Turnpike to North Jackson, OH where I-76 becomes the Turnpike for the last 20 miles until Pennsylvania, and I-80 turns into just another freeway. I-76 then continues into PA as the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

I hope that part is cleared up.

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The illinois I-pass is suppossed to work with ez-pass and vice versa...

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I think they are all the same tag, just different names. I know my Jersey EZ-Pass was compatible with Maryland's M-Tag when we went to Baltimore a few years ago. It would be hell if every interstate agency had non-compatible tags.

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By the way, if I ever get to travel the Ohio Turnpike on my way to Cedar Point, Hardees will be a must-stop on the way. I have yet to see one in person.

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ThrillNetwork Lead Moderator (Originally known as Hurricane)

It's time to play some DEFENSE!

Hardees, or Hades, as I call it is a huge mistake in fast food. For years, they had food that was simply awful. Then, they got their act together and started making better food, but their burgers are all HUGE. I don't want half of a freaking cow for lunch. How about a "non-glutton" menu? But, I'm noticing that a lot in restaurants- portions are just too big for me.

BTW, I remember when Hardees was Burger Chef.

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ThrillNetwork Lead Moderator
My neighbor got a big new house, and all I got was his lousy payments

They have Jr. sizes of their thickburgers... 1/4 instead of 1/3 pound.

Jimmy: If you have been to a Carls Jr., you've been to a Hardees. They are the exact same thing, just as Checkers' and Rallys' are one in the same.

As far as the turnpike goes... charging more for cash users is standard across any turnpike or toll road. The EZ-Pass, iPass, or other automated systems are meant to benefit frequent commuters of toll roads in the region. Because they travel so often, they do get a break in their fees.

Considering most of these roads maintenance and construction are entirely funded by the tolls they collect, and with the costs to do such work rising, they have to raise the tolls, which haven't really kept up as well with those costs.

Lastly, if you don't have a credit card, you can also use a debit card with a Visa or Mastercard logo on it, and they just process it as if it were a credit card.

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Everytime I ride a coaster, it valleys. I've never been on a stalled coaster or had one roll back (except Wicked Twister and what was Superman: Ultimate Escape, which does that by design).

That is one thing I love about Tennessee no toll roads or toll bridges whatsoever. Though once I was riding around one time and wound up on a toll ferry but I have never been on a toll road or bridge. That being said I really don't think people should be punished just because they do not have a credit card. I don't have one and don't want one for the simple reason I don't want a bunch of debt (that and the fact I don't have a job)

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Typing of this message was sped up so I could attend a seance to talk to a dead fly and no my avatar is not moving.

There's always other options if you don't wanna pay the tolls. Take the backroads. They are more scenic anyways. Besides the Ohio turnpike really isn't that bad compared to PA's crazy high tolls.

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"foolish earthlings, cower before the awesome techno onslaught of nine-hundred-and-nine robots dancing in unison"

In the late 80's the Hardees in Dixon was nasty and unkept. I boycotted them then and have done so for 20 years...

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I only ever went to one Hardees and ate their double cheeseburger. I didn't like it because it seems "sweeter" than a BK one that I adore.

In OH I got off the Turnpike onto Route 2 as quickly as I could on my way to CP. My parents totally avoided the OH turnpike and we took Rt 30, that same route that goes from Atlantic City, NJ to like Washington state, in 2000 on our way back from Chicago. Seeing $1.99 for gas in Chicago we thought was pretty high in 2000. That was their excuse for not taking me to SFGAM. Pretty lame one.

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Thrillnetwork Moderator - Sophomore Original sn: CHILLERLC1
2008 & 2009 TN Coaster Draft Champion
You knew I wanted the other repeat too

I wouldn't boycott an entire chain for one nasty location... like most other chains, they have franchised locations. I quit going to Arby's cuz they downsized their food portions (even their sandwiches), increased their prices, and have generally poor service across the area. They just came out their new $5.01 menu offerings, but that's a bit too late.

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Everytime I ride a coaster, it valleys. I've never been on a stalled coaster or had one roll back (except Wicked Twister and what was Superman: Ultimate Escape, which does that by design).

If Arby's was competing with Chipotle then maybe I'll see their price range. The problem is I'm still seeing them against the lower part of the range, the typicals - Taco Bell, BK so that's where Arby's lose with me.

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Thrillnetwork Moderator - Sophomore Original sn: CHILLERLC1
2008 & 2009 TN Coaster Draft Champion
You knew I wanted the other repeat too

Judging by the their online menus, Carl's Jr. and Hardees appear slightly different, but many of the items are common. The only Carl's Jr. I have been to are at Oklahoma City and Phoenix; the Phoenix location came with a Green Burrito menu as well.

And Carl's Jr. finally entered the Lone Star state market just last month starting in the Dallas/Fort Worth and San Antonio areas with plans to expand to other cities by the end of the year.

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ThrillNetwork Lead Moderator (Originally known as Hurricane)

It's time to play some DEFENSE!

From Ohio Turnpike to fast food in 16 posts.

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Voyage is the best roller coaster ever.
Raptor ride count - 1,146.

Can you pay at Hardees using the EZ Pass? And if so, do cash users have to pay more for a burger?

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YOUR HATRED AMUSES ME

Imo, i like taking the turnpike, but i have to agree, i like the scenic drives as well. We had the same thing in wv heading down towards our rafting trip. We took another way to our site. It was really beautiful going around the hills around even with the one river we drove by. Saved us all together 8 bucks if we would of used it.

I couldn't believe some of the curves our car drove in WV when we stayed in Western MD and I begged to return to Kennywood. Looked a true exercise for car handling.

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Thrillnetwork Moderator - Sophomore Original sn: CHILLERLC1
2008 & 2009 TN Coaster Draft Champion
You knew I wanted the other repeat too

It woudn't of been bad if it wasnt for the really horrible rainstorm i was in.