Sometimes I have gotten frustrated waiting in the "live" lane while traffic zooms by in the 'Dead' lane, always of course merging in at the front of the live lane. Then I become one of them, zipping to the front myself.
From now on, I will stay in the closing lane until it ends, just like I am told!
It should be pointed out that this system should NOT be used when approaching an
exit ramp. Diving in front of people at an exit ramp would not be good.
Bob Treumann, StP
At 10:56 AM 11/30/2004, Rick Mons wrote:
No, this isn't any risqu� post -- it's my Seasonal Gift to drivers everywhere -- including St Paul, of course!
Use the "zipper merge" when traffic comes down from two (or three) lanes to one (or two) lanes. What that means is that drivers use all the lanes until just before the lanes shrink ... and then take turns at that "merging point." That's different than the "Minnesota Way" which is for some drivers to enter (or stay in) the "surviving lane" way before the merging point and thus inciting "Road Rage" as other drivers drive in the less-used lane to the merging point.
The Zipper Merge is now the official approved Minnesota methodology per MN-DOT. While the news release primarily addresses work zone lane closures, the release also states " Mn/DOT also (hopes) motorists will use the zipper approach whether message signs are posted or not in any drop lane situations when traffic is congested."
For the full release, see: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/newsrels/04/08/31merge.html
And, to see how the zipper method works better, see the video demonstration on this page: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/information/dynamicmerge/factsheet.html
Rick Mons Tanglewood neighborhood of Shoreview
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