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re: What is so difficult about the zipper merge concept?
Posted on 8/10/25 at 1:16 pm to RaginCajunz
Posted on 8/10/25 at 1:16 pm to RaginCajunz
quote:
Because traffic volume usually exceeds the single lane capacity causing traffic to backup.
Sure but why not use the extra 1000' before you get there? It's especially infuriating when 1 lane backs up through a red light and there's 1000' feet of empty lane available bc everyone merges too early
This post was edited on 8/10/25 at 1:16 pm
1
Posted on 8/10/25 at 1:16 pm to DustyDinkleman
Uneducated, thoughtless and angry drivers.
You can tell by the downvotes you received.
You can tell by the downvotes you received.
Posted on 8/10/25 at 1:17 pm to Dantheman504
quote:
Those people think they are being safe and good drivers when in reality they are uncourteous assholes who don't have the brain capacity to think of the big picture of traffic flow.
quote:
Dantheman504
Name checks out
The road to hell is paved with good intentions, and hell is an interstate reduced to 1 lane.
Posted on 8/10/25 at 1:18 pm to DustyDinkleman
quote:
Drivers who wait until the last minute to merge when losing a lane may frustrate you, but studies show they are merging correctly. The zipper merge is a safer and more efficient way to merge in slow-moving, congested traffic. In fact, most traffic specialists agree the zipper merge technique is the most effective method for merging two congested lanes, ultimately resulting in minimal delay. Here is how—and why—it works.
AAA article
Posted on 8/10/25 at 1:20 pm to TSmith
The "facts don't care about your feelings" crowd have an aneurysm when you point out that every statistic shows zipper merging is more efficient. They just "feel" cheated if someone "skips the line" because they were smart enough to merge properly
Posted on 8/10/25 at 1:22 pm to RaginCajunz
quote:
Because traffic volume usually exceeds the single lane capacity causing traffic to backup. In addition it’s almost always accompanied by a reduced speed further causing backups.
Wrong. Merging early and leaving the other lane unused just pushes the backup further back up the road.
Posted on 8/10/25 at 1:26 pm to The Boat
quote:
No one is talking about interstate on ramps when they’re bitching about zipper mergers. They’re talking about interstate construction zones.
The thread was about zipper merges. Never specifically said "construction zones". Its actually a better example to use interstate zipper merges because there's LESS reason for traffic to come to a stop and yet the examples in the OP and my comments are the reason for those issues. No one even mentioned construction zones until you did and then you responded saying its about construction zones.
quote:
Sorry if you can’t connect the dots that the speed limit dropping from 70 to 45 in a one lane interstate construction zone will cause a backup
This was not brought up when I made my comment. You responded to me saying "I didn't see that in the post and yet followed up with your own response that was also not mentioned in the original post.
Yeah I get it can be a shite show in construction zones. The fact that's its also an issue in non construction zones with an open lane was the reason for my comment.
quote:
No one is talking about interstate on ramps when they’re bitching about zipper mergers. They’re talking about interstate construction zones.
No one was talking specifically about construction zones until you said it. I was talking about interstate zipper merge before you mentioned construction zones so you are actually completely wrong with that comment.
This post was edited on 8/10/25 at 1:33 pm
Posted on 8/10/25 at 1:28 pm to DustyDinkleman
Evidently, it is incredibly difficult to understand that this kumbaya, take-your-turn, fantasyland bullshite touted by the government (this should be your first red flag) does not work.
Remember that lane closure sign you saw almost 11,000 feet and two minutes ago? Hmmm.
Remember that lane closure sign you saw almost 11,000 feet and two minutes ago? Hmmm.
Posted on 8/10/25 at 1:29 pm to ssand
quote:
Evidently, it is incredibly difficult to understand that this kumbaya, take-your-turn, fantasyland bullshite touted by the government (this should be your first red flag) does not work.
Remember that lane closure sign you saw almost 11,000 feet and two minutes ago? Hmmm.
"Merge 2 miles before the merge point because my feelings get hurt"
Posted on 8/10/25 at 1:35 pm to DustyDinkleman
Is the zipper merge effectively used anywhere in the world?
Posted on 8/10/25 at 1:38 pm to DustyDinkleman
You have it right. Those that attempt to merge early have to contend with traffic on both sides. I stay aware and always give room to other motorists.
I have a friend who drives like a drone. He is completely unaware of what other motorists are trying to do. As long as he is in his lane and driving at a constant speed he's content. He often finds himself clustre fricked and bunched between semis.
I have a friend who drives like a drone. He is completely unaware of what other motorists are trying to do. As long as he is in his lane and driving at a constant speed he's content. He often finds himself clustre fricked and bunched between semis.
Posted on 8/10/25 at 1:40 pm to Dantheman504
quote:
Merging early means that they could have continued at a higher speed and chose to slow down for no reason. Its a direct correlation, sorry if you can't connect those dots.
You literally just described a fail condition of zipper merging.
The advantage is using the volume of the 2 lanes as long as possible. Zooming at a higher speed and expecting to immediately be let in is not zipper merging. Because then you are essentially askimg the merge lane to stop entirely for the sake of the constant stream of the “zoom lane”
Zipper merging benefits are only applicable if the two lanes are moving at about the same speed, with natural gaps between cars.
Posted on 8/10/25 at 1:43 pm to Whiznot
quote:
He is completely unaware of what other motorists are trying to do. As long as he is in his lane and driving at a constant speed he's content. He often finds himself clustre fricked and bunched between semis.
My favorite are people in the left lane who allow an 18 wheelers to get in front of them and then try to go around them while aggravated that they are now stuck behind that same 18 wheeler. Absolutely no awareness anywhere.
It reminds me of the car that tried to cross 4 lanes to exit and caused a big accident. They probably think they are a great driver because they didn't get in an accident and drive at a "safe speed" while completely unaware that they just caused a several car pile up.
This post was edited on 8/10/25 at 1:46 pm
Posted on 8/10/25 at 1:46 pm to DustyDinkleman
Hey, maybe if you make yet another thread about it, it'll magically happen.
Posted on 8/10/25 at 1:50 pm to clamdip
quote:
Wrong. The shorter the 1-lane is in use, the less lag is introduced. There are literally Ops Mgmt algorithms for this.
Maybe I'm misunderstanding your algorithm, but let's take the East bound lanes of I-10 over the Miss. River Bridge in BR. The algorithm would recommend shortening the mesh zone to where every vehicle has to reduce its speed to a crawl?
Posted on 8/10/25 at 1:51 pm to Meauxjeaux
The folks that try to veer over and cut off cars from zipper merging are self righteous jackasses.
Posted on 8/10/25 at 1:54 pm to DustyDinkleman
quote:
And as an aside, if you are in the merge lane and don’t let the merge car in, you deserve to go to hell.
Yeah, like when you completely ignore all the signs for a 1/2 a mile and just ride the shoulder stripe until everyone else moves around you to let you in.
I'm all for using most of the lane as traffic permits, but the goddamned people that you can see aren't checking mirrors, looking out their windows, or doing anything at all proactive also deserve hell.
Posted on 8/10/25 at 2:02 pm to DustyDinkleman
Just face it. People are stupid.
And that’s why we can’t have nice things.
And that’s why we can’t have nice things.
Posted on 8/10/25 at 2:02 pm to DustyDinkleman
quote:
What is so difficult about the zipper merge concept?
Because human nature always fricks everything up. Communism looks great on paper until humans implement it and their nature turns everything to shite.
Zipper merging is the same way. Humans are not mentally designed to just let someone seamlessly "cut them off". All it takes is one person having to brake because they weren't let in, then someone inevitable brakes to let them in and it's all a cascading jam from there.
As long as human beings are behind the wheel, zipper merging will never be efficient. I swear sometimes I fricking people as a species.
This post was edited on 8/10/25 at 2:03 pm
Posted on 8/10/25 at 2:07 pm to Yeti_Chaser
The one place that I know of where the zipper merge is almost perfectly performed is coming from northbound LA one merging with southbound LA one getting onto the bridge proper.
Traffic always flows as well as possible there. It’s a good example of how the zipper works.
Traffic always flows as well as possible there. It’s a good example of how the zipper works.
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