On Friday morning at about 9 a.m., I was driving to my dental appointment in West Seattle. No cavities, thank you very much.

I was driving over the 520 bridge listening to a commentator on a local news radio channel. As I passed under the tolling sensor and cruised across the bridge, the commentator began talking about that exact topic – tolling.

He was crowing about how he had been a long-time user of 520, remarking that he had used it for some 10 years, but now he had switched to using I-90 thanks to the horrible issue of tolling. This commentator boasted about how it only cost him six minutes more in the afternoon and, yeah, he had to get up a little earlier, but he was avoiding the toll – yippee!

He went on to talk about the fact that the state is going to raise tolls on the Narrows Bridge, between Tacoma and Gig Harbor, and is looking into tolling I-5 and I-405. They are all valid things to question and debate.

But it was his statements on tolling the I-90 bridge that got under my skin. He questioned how the state could have the audacity to toll I-90 to pay for the new 520 bridge. This commentator, who ran for Governor in 2000, did not see the hypocrisy in his statements made not 20-seconds apart.

And he is not alone. I have heard many people who are avoiding the tolls on 520, say the same thing.

But here is the thing, I don’t understand how these people expect a new bridge to be built. Who do they expect to pay for it? Paul Allen? Bill Gates? Because if it were built by a private entity, I guarantee you would be paying more than $3.50 during peak hours. That leaves it up to the state, or more specifically, us.

Is the toll set really high? Yes. Are there other issues like when will tolling end, when will the bridge be completed, and project waste? You bet. And all valid issues.

But to crow about how you used the 520 bridge, contributed to its decay and then refuse to pay for its replacement, is irresponsible and maddening.

You know how you prevent tolling on I-90 for many people who rarely use 520? Continue the route you took for 10 years.

This can be debated, but I bet that a majority of people outside this topic would agree: The best thing about tolling is that it is a user tax. People who use it, pay for it. They take responsibility and don’t force someone 200-miles away to pay for a bridge they will never use through a higher gas tax.

You are also costing other people who never use either bridge, to pay more as well. Sitting on I-405, in even more traffic than usual, while your car idles, costs people money in gas, wear and tear on their car and time with their family.

I get not wanting to pay for something you rarely use. But if I refused to pay my dentist after my checkup, that would be considered stealing. A service was rendered. I have to take responsibility and pay the bill when it comes due.

So the next time you get in your car and you decide whether to take I-90 or 520, when you have been using 520 for years, think about the cavities you are giving the rest of us if you decide to skip out on the bill.

Matt Phelps is a staff writer for the Kirkland Reporter.