Google Gate Bridge Rant

Let them buy the naming rights to the bridge. Google Gate Bridge. Done deal, no need to pass the buck to pedestrians our tourists let alone cyclists/runners who commute across the bridge. Not a Google fan? How about TwitGate PinBridge, or Golden Gate Sales Force. If you are really looking at making a dime off the tourists who use the bridge, then why are you not saying how you plan to include the locals who use the traffic? And before any of you yahoos scream hey pay your fair share, I drive around 30,000+ miles a year so believe me I pay my fair share. In addition, I also cross the span about 300 times a year via bike so my turn to cry not fair. 

So when you hear TwitGates about 6,000 pedestrians/cyclists use the bridge daily....for the commuters in their, that's a double tax. I assume they are going to charge us both ways to ride, run, walk across the bridge? Let me affix an excemption fast trak device on top of my helmet a la goPro. Don't make me stop, or wait in line. Besides exercise and how cycling is green, I get the right to avoid commute traffic except for bike to work day. 

GO'ldenPro Bridge anyone? Don't get me started. The Bridge District recently took away our beloved clock, that used to be housed above the toll takers. This is a new funding opportunity waiting for a sponsor. Hey Mike's Bikes, how about you sponsor a clock and affix it to the old Tourist Shop on the South End of the bridge? Place a matching one by the new view area and you can strategically hit up just about every cyclist in the Bay Area. Or maybe sponsor dollars are more worthy for Specialized, who has global recognition especially for the tourists. Has anyone talked to them? 

Give me the opportunity to buy a brick, no wait not that. Buy a cable that holds the bridge up. I won't pay your walking tax, but I'll gladly pay to get my family name plaque affixed to some cables on the bridge. And don't forget to charge me the renewal fee every year. Oh and parking at Vista Point is free, that can't be right. You may as well charge for the bathrooms as well right? Or will my cycling dollars be used to subsidize the tourist restrooms at Vista Point? Parking fees at the ferry, no way. Pay for reserved parking? I'm in. rake me for all I'm worth. Ok not me, but I'm sure I have friends who would pay.

Lastly, at least you'll know these sponsors will pay up. All you have to do is cash a single check. You won't have to worry about charging parking fees, or tolls and face the unsurmountable burden on trying to collect on those cheating the system. Cause if you get 6-10,000 cyclists/pedestrians/tourists crossing the bridge per day, I'm sure you'll get 100% payment on all those individual transactions. Minus of course whatever Apple Pay will deduct in the process. Of course maybe they'll charge us twice and then you're net positive regardless. Unless don't tell me, you are going to hire programmers to device your own payment system instead. Well, I hope it's blackberry 7 friendly, or Droid Worthy. Don't forget Apple. Apple Bridge? No wait, I got it, 

Golden Apple Bridge. Now that's a name I can spin to.