Yes, I only did the experiment for a few days. (it was 20-odd years ago so I don't remember the exact details, but I think I did it maybe 3 times in each direc

Yes, I only did the experiment for a few days. (it was 20-odd years ago so I don't remember the exact details, but I think I did it maybe 3 times in each direction, less than a week total.) Is there variance? Sure. That's kind of the point - any amount of time I actually saved was more than swallowed up by the variances. In the end, the tiny amount of time I could save was not worth the heightened stress level. But in the end, the experiment was for me and me alone. If you'd like to run your own more rigorous experiment and show how much time you can save by weaving through traffic, go right ahead; I've found what works better for me.