The ZIPPER law
 

Posted elsewhere as well. Maybe enough people will read this to make a difference.

The ZIPPER Law. Cars traveling north on Buena Vista should learn how to merge due to the right lane closure. Even the merge sign demonstrates where the merge takes place. The half-mile backup of traffic in the left lane CAN be avoided, and I find myself the only driver doing so- slowly.

Instead of having the front end of your car partway into the left lane a mile before you need to, while hoping that some courteous driver will let you “cut in line” and being cursed at or given the finger when trying, there’s actually a system in place:

Merge like a zipper- use BOTH lanes, PLEASE.
One car merges from the blocked lane, then a car from the open lane can pass, then the next car should let one car over from the blocked lane, and so on. This pattern continues until all cars are through the merge zone, representing a zipper.

A zipper merge can keep traffic flowing in BOTH lanes by bringing some organization to the merging process. The zipper merge keeps traffic moving more smoothly, compared to a less structured approach. It sure beats people moving up, purposely not letting you in, and waiting in a long left lane way before the actual merge. The sign shows both lanes used before the closure.

So tell me why the "zipper" thingee wouldn't work when it says right lane closed ahead? In truth...it does and works much better when people get into the open lane asap. When you wait till the end is when you'll get flipped off because you're trying to get ahead of those who chose to do it early and properly. Any other reason is bogus and self centered.

the sign...doesn't show where you should merge...IT SHOWS WHERE THE RIGHT(OR LEFT)LANE ENDS!!!!! You're supposed to be in the open lane long before. Sheesh. You'd think adults would base this sort of decision on common sense...not waiting till you have no choice.

The earlier thread.
 

Guess we have a new thing to argue about

Or, just possibly, these are drivers who are experienced with zipper merges and understand, as studies show, that using both lanes and zippering at the end moves traffic more efficiently.

(I believe links to the studies were posted in the previous thread mentioned above)

Too many would be traffic cops who dont understand how zipper merges work. God forbid you try to explain to them that there are actual, scientific studies why they do work. They always know better.

Courteous
 

I hear what you are saying, and I agree 100%, with one exception: Anyone who wants to cut in line will continue to do so, no matter what they read or what someone tells them. Same as the maskers vs anti-maskers, nothing will change their mind to go one way or the other. It's just the way it is, we all must accept this type of attitude. Either accept it or move to an area where there are very few people.

Sorry Mr zipper I didn’t mean to flip you off I was just having a bad day

Cut in line?? Like that brief second of time really makes a difference in someone’s life? And these are majority retirees who shouldn’t be in a hurry anyway.....

Yeah your thoughts, maybe those who understand how it actually works and are following it....and that slight hesitation it causes you, maybe enough to get out a yawn...such an inconvenience to life...

Merge
 

How do you propose we merge in The Village of Stu? Will we be forced to merge in The Village of Stu?

There isn’t cutting in line when you use the zipper. Both lanes have about the same number of cars.

Both lanes are open until you reach the obstruction. The other day some ****** pulled half way into the other lane to prevent traffic from flowing in that lane 1/2+ mile before the lane closed. This wanabe cop needs to be arrested for hindering the flow of traffic. And you wonder where road rage comes from?

USE THE ZIPPER!!! IF every driver used this method NO-ONE would get flipped off. Why would anyone want to merge a mile BEFORE the merge occurs???? When I drive right up to the merge point I am not trying to beat anyone or cut in line, I am merging. One logical suggestion however would be to reduce the speed limit at the point where the merge warning is given. Unfortunately not many seem to do that

I thought this was a N.J. thing. People are more courteous to the left, right. Left, right. (Zipper). Perhaps we were taught this in drivers Ed. Or just common sense.

You gotta love TV drivers!

Rolling roadblocks always work, but illegal.

That’s very true! It’s the grumpy, self centered drivers that pull up and won’t let you in at all, especially at the very end. They’re probably the ones who cut you off on the road everywhere as well- as if it’ll get them somewhere faster. Either they just don't know about the law, don’t understand the concept, or they’re aggressive drivers. You can slip in before the end, where a car or two keep their distance in line. If they didn’t want anyone in the right lane at all, maybe the sign would have x’s on the right lane so no one can drive in it. A merge is a merge, regardless. I was in the car with an aggressive driver once, and it was scary. The two cars wouldn’t let either merge first and got so close to one another that i was worried I’d be hit on the passenger side.

Learned about the Zipper Merge living the the Twin Cities area. Works great when drivers cooperate.

Hey, do you think "common sense" would work? Why not give it a try.

I hear the argument that we are all retired all the time. You may be retired, but most of us still have a life. Doctor's appointments, golf tee times, meetings with set start times, card games, exercise times, dinner reservations, etc. are all good reasons not to poke along.

True, but there are always alternate routes. If you travel in that area and first see the closure, next time I/you/they could plan ahead and leave a few minutes earlier for an appointment. It’s not that the wait is forever- there’s just a better way.

They do this in Western PA, however to avoid confusion and road rage (common in Western PA), they put a sign at the beginning that says Use Both Lanes and Take Turns at Merge.

I'm not going to risk Florida road rage by zipping up the empty lane, even if I'm right. Too much carry concealed around here.:duck:

There are too many self-centered egotistical people who live in this area they will believe they are more important than everybody else and therefore your system will not work. I'm from Jersey New York also and believe me I've seen it all especially driving up and down the parkway and the turnpike and going into New York over the bridges they won't give you an inch.

Why is it that when someone posts a “complaint” about the Villages, someone else always seizes the opportunity to suggest that if you don’t like it they should move somewhere else- “where there are less people.” It was nothing other than an observation, along with providing info as a solution for people who don’t know about it and now do- not a complaint. I’m in no rush. If I know about the closure the first time I’m there, I’ll plan an alternate route or leave five minutes earlier. I’m just amazed that any time I travel in that area, I see the sheeples all following in a line. Maybe those people CAME FROM an area where there were less people and have no clue how to maneuver roundabouts or lane closures.

And my point exactly, if people use it properly, both lanes you can move along...but apparently that’s too difficult for some...And yes most are retired and that brief second you have to put your brakes, to let them merge on is not going to make the difference if your late...a tee time, card games...lol, so urgent....and BTW I do live here and WORK...

Zipper method is the most efficient and reduces anger if everyone uses it. Unfortunately it’s not a law so it needs to be an education issue through proper signage at closures. Some jurisdictions choose to use the signage and it works well.

Zipper
 

One of my pet peeves. The zipper works but most people think you’re cheating. Truckers especially on the highway prevent people from trying to zipper in. It has been researched and the zipper method is the most efficient way to control lane merger.

To me, common sense would be to use both lanes and merge when you're at the cones, then every other car merge. They do this in other states and do have a sign that says "use both lanes until merge point" or something like that.
Makes sense to me.

No we don’t!!!
Lol

if you really think drivers are ever going to drive with respect to other drivers, you are smoking the drapes. it's not going to happen.
for every fool you encounter, there is one waiting just ahead for you. left lane drivers, just pass them on the right, and flip the bird if you want to. bad roundabout drivers, that's one that is never going to end. merging drivers at construction sites, good luck. conforming people to your zipper nonsense. ha ha. bad parking at stores, that's never going to end. it's like different views on politics, race and nationalities, it is never going to end.

For all the 'non-zippers', how do you deal with the situation were the left lane extends back to and beyond the previous round-about and there is traffic coming in from the right?

Sounds like every day on every freeway in L.A.

I didn't realize that there were so many Amish here...

A problem occurs when the people in the open lane do not allow people in the closed lane to merge.

A better solution is to simply avoid that area of Buena Vista if at all possible.

Where on Buena Vista is this?

"Merge properly?" The zipper theory is the correct one. But with canceled carry being the rule down here, I don't think it's a good idea.

Agree with the OP. When everyone drives as far as possible in their lane before merging there is much less of a back up. Read that awhile ago on a Department of Transportation post. As far as merging using the zipper method, I find that most drivers are courteous enough to do this without being reminded.

The intersection of buena vista and 466A.
Lol... it might even be gone by now! :clap2: Check it out and LMK if there are any drivers in the right lane
.:icon_wink:

Retired no schedule wait till 5 pm situation avoided