10-11-2017, 02:38 PM
(10-11-2017, 10:35 AM)Coke6pk Wrote: Now the off-topic: This is the reason why I use that right lane that merges, and use the zipper merge the roads were designed for. My hope is the 100's of cars lined up in the left lane will learn about proper merging and one day we will use our roads efficiently! [The city spent a lot of money to pave that lane up to and including the merge spot... we should be using it!]
Back on topic: I wish Felix had a blue mouth!
Coke
Minor nit: our roads are not signed for zipper merging. Actually I’m not sure what the design intent of the typical merge setup is.
What I do know is that the only way to resolve the “zipper” debate is to change the signage to be symmetrical: essentially, both lanes should be signed as merging into the other, but with a slightly different new design of sign that makes it clear that it is a zipper merge and where to merge. If lines are painted (permanent or organized construction situation), what should happen is that the dividing line between the lanes should split and diverge to the outside, so that cars in both lanes have to cross a dashed line in order to enter the single merged lane.
With the current situation, both “sides” are wrong: on the one hand, people who just casually drive past a whole line of people who are patiently waiting their turn are in fact jumping a queue; but on the other hand the decision by the people in the line to put the merge point way back is an incorrect one.
As an interim measure, one can take the less busy lane and at a judicious distance from the point where the lanes actually merge match speeds with the more busy lane. Then just maintain that position until the merge, at which point the person beside you in the busy lane will probably let you in, appreciative that you have done your bit to reduce traffic chaos. This is what needs to happen for a successful zipper anyway: at some point, the two lanes should match speeds and the cars should take up positions adjacent to gaps in the other lane, then the two lanes can just squeeze down to a single lane without any trouble.