Actually I'm the guy who merges while traffic is moving, so that I don't screw with the ability of other drivers to keep moving, unlike so called "zipper mergers."
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The Bad Drivers of Ontario Thread
- Thread starter Boots
- Start date
Actually I'm the guy who merges while traffic is moving, so that I don't screw with the ability of other drivers to keep moving, unlike so called "zipper mergers."
Read the book Traffic by Tom Vanderbilt. The chapter one, postscript discusses merging.
Doesn't work that way. Traffic density will determine if the flow keeps moving or slows or stalls, not the merging point. The only way to keep moving is if traffic is so light that there's an abundance of merging opportunities.
I don't merge at the first available opportunity for several reasons. For one, every now and then an upcoming merge is indicated that never materializes. So everyone shuffles over to one lane in anticipation and the rest just breeze through. I take the signs as a warning, not a directive. I get ready to merge but don't do it until I'm convinced by my own eyes that a merge is necessary. Secondly, some merges are indicated several km ahead of the actual merge point. So you end up with kms worth of backed up traffic when there's a mostly free flowing lane right there to be used.
Once I get to the point where a merge is inevitable I'll look for a natural opening, not necessarily driving right up to the end of my lane. But drivers are probably ****** off and defensive about their place in the stupid long line and drive bumper to bumper at that point, so I usually have to force my way in.
Except that last second merging results in braking, which creates ripple effect braking, resulting in stoppages. I see it all the time.
Any merging creates stoppages over time. Early merging exacerbates those stoppages, and late merging alleviates them. Read the book, you'll like it.
You're actually the guy that seems to not understand the concept of zipper merging. I mean, the basic concept of zipper/basketweave merging is to merge two lanes of traffic together like a zipper or basketweave. "Every other vehicle." You don't necessarily need to have traffic moving to achieve this. When traffic is congested and not moving, it's best to fill up all available lanes and then try to merge the traffic together like a zipper or basketweave.
..and what's ironic is while you think you're merging and not affecting traffic you never really know. The guy you merged in front of still might have braked causing a chain reaction leaving the traffic a bunch of car down completely stopped.
At least you meant well. lol.
I agree with the concept of zipper merging...the key is to freakin' accelerate during the process and get yourself up to the flow of traffic. Nothing screws up the flow of traffic more than some dolt who putters down the onramp at 40K while traffic is doing 100, finds a gap and jams himself into it and THEN decides to (often still leisurely) accelerate, all while there was a half kilometer of onramp left unused. When guys like me with 150,000# of truck are forced to jam on the brakes to accommodate these fools that's one of the biggest contributors to traffic hoseups since we cannot simply regain all that lost speed like a car can - it can take kilometers for us to get back up to speed, and if it happens on a hill we may never get it back until we crest it. That sort of thing creates a huge accordion effect behind us but we're not the ones at fault for it, the guy who's new blowing along at 140 in the fast lane 5K ahead of u s (but couldn't be bothered to accelerate in the merging lane) is the cause.
And if Canadians drove like Germans, that might matter.
Rofl. You're the one who brought it up. Was it just a misnomer?
The fact that Canadians don't drive like Germans?
martin900cc
Well-known member
People don't brake when they merge, otherwise? You think two lanes will become one but with half the gap to cars around you, and everyone will maintain their speed like NASCAR drivers?
No, the idea of a zipper merge in Canada. I've never seen it here. That's why I quoted you saying it.
It's not what you described.
That's called late merging and it makes sense, since your merge point does not move and it requires no enforcement.
Basically, you throw up a couple of signs telling everyone to stay in their lanes until the merge point, and at that point you have a sign that says merge here. Both lanes stay full, so nobody goes rushing by you making you think that your lane is slow.
Early merge can work, but once the merge point moves, so you can't have a sign, and you then have an empty lane, which is very tempting, so you need enforcement, and you know what a police car does to traffic speeds.
J
JTJR
Guest
So this happened today on Guelph line just south of Derry. It's a 50 zone and there are always cops doing radar. I was going about 60. She was riding my ass for about 2 klm then decided to pass on a double yellow line. I caught up to her about 5 minutes later when she was waiting to turn on Dundas.
https://youtu.be/yzEn_aKRIHc
https://youtu.be/yzEn_aKRIHc
Looked like he had time to stop for the red light. I like the "stupid little ..." comment after the fact. Light turns yellow in the 32 second mark.
What's with the engine/exhaust noise? Maybe she couldn't stand the sound from behind?
J
JTJR
Guest
It was recorded with a gopro in a sealed case, which doesn't exactly record sound good.
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