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In many cases the lanes weren’t designed for zipper merging or drivers “zipper merge” at inappropriate places. Zipper merge is great! But not all merging is to
by gorpy7 8y ago
In many cases the lanes weren’t designed for zipper merging or drivers “zipper merge” at inappropriate places. Zipper merge is great! But not all merging is to be a zipper merge- this is constantly abused, and perhaps justified in the minds of offenders under the guise of the zip. A lane, such as an entrance lane, that terminates is a good time to zipper merge. But many many times, in Minnesota, people use any lane that allows them to cut to the front of the line. Regardless if that causes a massive slowdown as they leave the relatively free flowing lane and “zipper merge” - match speed of the slow lane. Articles would do well to mention the finer points before ushering us to 10% gains... maybe.
- EricE 8y agoThe "merge when you can" mentality that has predominated in the US is the major cause of this. If people would just go down to the merge point and then merge there wouldn't be an issue. It only leads to the perception of "cutting" when more idiots merge well before the natural merge point then logically where the lanes pinch back down.
- jmkd 8y agoGlad to see lane design mentioned, it's a key component. In most zipper merge opportunities there is a predominant lane and another lane that is ending, leading to the idea of a 'right' and a 'wrong' lane which precludes intuitive zipper merging. If lane design (even just the markings) were such that both lanes were equal prior to the merge, zipping together would seem the most natural thing to do whether signposted or not.