re: Let’s argue - zipper merge or no?

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The zipper merge is the best way, but it's not compatible with modern human sociology.

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Correct. When a lane is closed on the interstate, there is always one jackass that holds everyone else up by doing 20mph, causing everyone else to tailgate TF out of the car in front of them.

So then traffic ends up coming to a stop, so the cars tailgating can let the zipper merging lane in.

If everyone maintained a normal speed and kept a 2-3 car distance, the zipper merge would work beautifully

I agree with the guy driving the car in the video. No reason to have one line of traffic when if properly executed, it could go a lot smoother with both lanes doing the zipper merge.

It seems to work at the drive-thru

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if properly executed

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This includes merging at the speed of the traffic you're merging into.

Retarded frickwits getting onto I-10 at the Cane Island exit Eastbound in Katy, merge with each other at 10mph (traffic inbound from the North and the South,) which means this endless stream of dicks merges onto I-10 doing about 20mph, which fricks up traffic on EB I-10, multiple times a day, for close to SEVEN MILES. As in creeping along at 15mph, at 0730, 0900, 1300, 1500, 2000, every day.

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where they think it's "fair" to merge

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It's not about where it's fair to merge. It's about where you have the opportunity to merge without a massive disruption to the flow of traffic. Yes, if everyone left huge spacing, you will end up with an opportunity further down. But you know that rarely ever happens. So when you pass up a clear spot to merge when you know the lane you are in closes in a quarter mile just because you think you know better, then you are the problem as you now cause everyone to slow down to let you in. But good on you for making it 5 spots further up.

And this whole using more of the available lane for longer thing is BS. As with any flow dynamics, you are restricted by the smallest choke point. If the speed limit is 70 (and assumed to be followed) and the min lane is a single lane, only so many cars per hour can pass. Whatever is happening upstream of that cannot go faster past that point with either option. So the name of the game is do whatever it takes to reduce the friction (slow down) getting into that single lane. And reducing that friction in real world application is getting over as soon as you know it's coming and have a smooth chance to merge. Obviously in very heavy traffic that this may happen with little to no options for the smooth merge. But many, many times the traffic is created by those waiting until the last minute because they feel they have the right to merge at the very end, but no smooth merge opportunities exist and someone must brake, creating a chain reaction reducing space between cars behind them and further limiting opportunities for smooth merges for following cars. And it snowballs. Just get over at your earliest convenience and everyone will be better for it. Your need to go 5 mph faster for another .5 miles just caused everyone to slow down by 30 mph for 10 minutes.

Not much to discuss. This is the official practice of the state and community where I live. Learn it and use it.