Minnesotans and the dreaded "Zipper Merge" (vs., cities)

[mr roboto]

Lol.

[toobrown]

Which comes first, Minnesotans learning how to merge or Vikings winning the superbowl?

[mr roboto]

Originally Posted by toobrown

Which comes first, Minnesotans learning how to merge or Vikings winning the superbowl?

Neither unfortunately.

[mnlife]

The zipper merge just makes sense, a single point of merging. Can we do it? Maybe. What scares the hell out of me is the car at a dead stop a half mile before the official merge trying to get into the other lane.

[toobrown]

Originally Posted by mr roboto

neither unfortunately.

lol

[pete6032]

According to some people, zipper merge from 394E to 94E during rush hour = drive down the 94W part of the exit and then drive across the median at the last second.

[cielpur]

394 to 94 is not an example of when people should zipper merge.

I agree with thedosius, even in areas where zippering is appropriate you might find drivers blocking you. More people are aware of it now, but there remains a "budging in line" mentality for some.

[bler144]

For one, I don't really buy that this is a uniquely MN problem, much less that it's an issue of "Nice" though there probably is an issue of "fairness" behind some of it.

One side note, is that the studies appear to be based only on analysis of merging prior to work zone closures, not the broad spectrum of all merge locations/actions. So if you're sitting in a lane that has other purposes and trying to last minute merge, you're having other impacts on the system.

In any case, I think there's a bit of a premium given to the use of the freed space that results from the fact that at least several of these studies were based on computer modeling, not real world behavior.

In terms of flow, sure the ratio of volume to space (congestion) counts, but IIRC from Tom Vanderbilt's "Traffic" most observations of real world driving note that "shocks" affect slowdowns at a rate beyond what the congestion itself alone would indicate.

So if you're zooming to the front and trying to cram yourself in, you may be patting yourself on the back for "efficient use of space" (and Vanderbilt supports the zipper method) but the ripple of other drivers lurching forward to block you or slamming on their brakes to let you in probably offsets whatever good you did.

The real idea of the zipper model is that two lanes moving at relatively equal speeds reach a point where they combine "naturally" not one where mergers are seeking to gain every possible inch in a death match until one party or the other gives way. And I see that pretty much every where I go.

So it's not just THAT drivers use that space, but HOW they use it and ultimately merge.

[Ghengis]

where there is a sign that says "left lane ends in 1/4 mile" that means that they accept the fact that there will be people still driving in that lane and in the remaining quarter mile, normal laws relating to speed limits, reckless driving, use of blinkers, etc. do not apply.


"Make a hole! Coming Thru!!!"

[cathedralhill1]

one where mergers are seeking to gain every possible inch in a death match until one party or the other gives way

There are parts of the country where this is epidemic--try driving in one of those places for a while before knocking MN drivers. So nice that they are in short supply here, it even makes the dreaded on-off merge lanes totally manageable IMO.