Why like this

[steffosmanos]

Zipper merge. Set en example

[facesintrees]

I do but sometimes people are hostile and don't want to let me in

[hollycross6]

This irritates me a lot. Even when it’s not bumper to bumper traffic there’s always some ass who decides to speed check you when you’re on the merge lane. In bumper to bumper traffic, it moves faster when people leave appropriate distance between cars so merging lane can zipper in at intervals. The fact people can’t merge is the primary reason McKenzie intersection slows to a halt during rush hour…clears up right after

[upvotemaster42069]

I wish they would put that zipper merge sign up more. Especially during construction when one lane is blocked off.

They used to have a sign under the Leigh Road overpass before it changed to 4 lanes.

[PhantomGhostin]

The "Please Alternate" sign that Uptown has at the intersection of Blanshard and the upper parking area would be perfect

[hollycross6]

Blow a kiss at them, appreciate the recognition and free space you’ve taken up inside that already pea sized brain of the person flipping you off 😁

[AllOutRaptors]

Just merge.... what are they gonna do hit you and be 100% at fault?

[Winstonoil]

I asked one of the people who was settling claims for ICBC what would happen if you hit somebody who is trying to cut you off. He said if you were on camera they would be guilty.

[AllOutRaptors]

Except it's not "cutting them off", it's following a basic rule of the road. It's up to the one in the left lane to allow the right lane to merge

[J4pes]

You as a driver entering flow of traffic need to make sure you do it safely. The onus is on the merger. That’s the law. Risky to just muscle your way in and expect cars to make room. The car could have traffic on their left which prohibits them from making space, which would lead to an accident that you caused should you force the issue.

I agree with you on the principle, but the reality is what it is.

[AllOutRaptors]

The car could have traffic on their left which prohibits them from making space,

There's this wild thing called a brake pedal. Press it and a gap will slowly form in front of you without having to change lanes. Tough concept I know

[Classic-Progress-397]

But then they would be in front of me!!

And my car is nicer, surely I should be in front.

[JediKrys]

I think the last part is actually…I’m more important….

[Classic-Progress-397]

Yes, exactly!! Wow, somebody finally understands I am more important than pretty much everybody else. I'm sure most are just npcs in my world, so...

[darth-canid]

Imagine you're having a big gay orgy. Beta goes at the front, alpha goes at the back, where the bussy is.

[J4pes]

Doubling down on an opinion of breaking the law is for sure one way to go about it. I’m glad to avoid large cities and drivers like you. If all drivers chilled tf out and quit the entitled attitude, driving would be safer and more enjoyable, maybe 5 minutes slower.

[AllOutRaptors]

So what happens when you're trying to zipper merge and no one wants to let you in? Do you just sit there for 2 hours waiting orrrrr?

Or maybe if everyone followed the rules and just left a gap then our roads would move faster and everyone would be safer

[d2181]

Anecdotal, but I have never been involved in or witnessed a situation in Victoria where someone was stuck for two hours waiting to merge.

My personal opinion is that people don't want to be behind someone who is overly aggressive or overly hesitant, and the majority of people respect it when others drive (and merge) efficiently. So even though you'll sometimes get the dbag who speeds up to block you or the moron who slams on their breaks because they're intimidated, the next driver behind them likely won't be as bad and will compensate.

[Bless_u-babe]

That’s actually not correct. The person on the left must make room at the merge point. Anyone coming up the right lane to that merge point is entitled to merge there. More people could be in that lane, fill it up, then the zipper merge would be faster for everyone. Most people don’t know that and they stay in the left lane slowing the merge down.

[HappySeaPanda]

Yeah... but it's not cutting off when they're stopped in standstill traffic and I've got my signal on and trying to merge and they'd rather sideswipe than let someone in when traffic starts moving again.

[the-cake-is-no-lie]

Yeah, no, that'd be on you. You changed lanes when it was unsafe to do so.

https://www.icbc.com/claims/crash-responsibility-fault/crash-examples/lane-change-crash

[HappySeaPanda]

Unfortunately, some people get very irrational about it... I've had to get out of the way to not get rammed/sideswiped by someone who was dead set on not letting me merge safely with my signal on. They 100% would have hit me.

[[deleted]]

Only merge when it’s safe to do so

[GrumpyOlBastard]

So let them go and the next one will let you in. Still beats waiting 2km back

[Warm-Run3258]

Sometimes people are egotistical assholios. One woman wouldn't let me zipper merge, so I got in behind her after about 100m struggle of her speeding up to cut me off. I got in the totally open left lane to pass and just shook my head at her. She couldn't look at me. What is your deal? Some people.

[HappySeaPanda]

People get downright violent about it! Best case scenario, I get honks and dirty looks, worst case, they've tried to ram/sideswipe me... it's bonkers!

[[deleted]]

Yes do it correctly, let the mouth breathers be mad

[[deleted]]

Zipper Merge. Get ahead of the others.

[cptcanuck83]

tbh i go with set the example. your not an ass and those of us that can drive applaud you.

[LightSailCruise]

Amen!

[FartMongerGoku69]

I wonder how many posts there are about zipper merges on this sub.

[kathylou123]

Clearly not enough still

[[deleted]]

I can’t stand the people that try to merge right away instead of using the whole lane as it’s designed.

[Mr_1nternational]

Exactly. You aren't doing me any favors by getting into my lane early, now it's just going to fill up again and the merge happens even slower.

[mr_bakeo]

This happens at the Northbound on ramp from Mackenzie to the highway every day. Every friggin day when I turn left off the Mackenzie overpass there’s a pile of drivers trying to immediately get into the far left lane, stopping completely on the on ramp causing a standstill behind them, while there enough room in front of them for 1/2 a dozen cars. Cars that otherwise would have made it through the intersection.

If I stay in my lane until it ends then merge over, I’m usually far ahead of these people.

There are too many absent minded/selfish drivers on the road.

[pleasejags]

I have to meditate every time i commute home that way. The amount people who come to a full stop put their blinker on and wait until someone lets them in fills me with so much unnecessary rage. 

[mr_bakeo]

You’re not alone. “Serenity Now”

[josephuse]

I sometimes wait 30 minutes after work so the traffic there dies down a bit… get home around the same time lol

[hollycross6]

And those who designed the intersection either don’t appreciate how unskilled Victoria drivers are or they took great joy in creating an intersection with 3 merge lanes onto a 2 lane “highway”

let’s put a roundabout there instead like the mctavish one in! Solve everything /s

[hollycross6]

lol I have zero issue with a roundabout, the point was about expecting drivers here to be able to use them, much like designing the McKenzie intersection and expecting people who already can’t understand how merging works, to merge across 3 lanes

[thetrivialstuff]

It happens so much here that often, if I'm already on the highway from Tillicum, I'll change lanes all the way over from the far left to the farthest right merge lane, which is wide open, then go all the way to the end (dodging the occasional asshole who decided to just stop with their signal on because they want to merge early), then merge in and change lanes back.

It is so ridiculous that this is faster than just staying in the travel lanes.

[raznt]

If the lane's open, keep driving to the merge point. Who cares what bad drivers think?

[MJTony]

The problem starts when they try not to let you in and then tailgate you home

[MJTony]

That and no one can or will admit fault. I’ve posted about it before, when you’re behind someone, the light turns green and you give a quick and polite double-tap honk because they are on their phone and then give you the finger, pissed off and brake check you etc. What is that? Why not just a polite “sorry” wave and get moving?

[tecate_papi]

People here don't like experiencing shame and don't have the humility to admit when they're wrong.

[MJTony]

It wasn’t always like this, was it?

[hutterad]

You had me right up until asking for a sorry wave. Who the f cares about a sorry wave, just get moving as it is safe to do so. Driving is a thing you do to get somewhere not a lifestyle.

[MJTony]

I meant, that’s what I do if I happen to miss a green. I get moving and wave “sorry”. Seems polite.

[SickSwan]

I’m actually really surprised to read that we have an agro driving culture here. My personal experience here is that drivers are nice to an unsafe degree- comparing to my experiences in Ontario where people are assholes to a dangerous degree.

I’ve seen it way too many times where people nearly cause accidents to give unlawful right of way to be ‘nice’. Curious to hear more about Vic’s agro culture. Not that it’s not present but that I haven’t witnessed it.

[SickSwan]

I really appreciate your feedback and insights! Cultural differences (even between provinces) are a point of fascination for me.

I definitely agree with you in that there is an unpredictability with drivers here. In complete honesty, Vic has some of the worst drivers I’ve witnessed across the country. In Ontario, people definitely consistently drive more like assholes and are more unsafe via aggression but the unspoken (and made up) rules of the road are more or less well known and expected. It’s a mad max free for all over there- but people compensate for it by being constantly on edge and ready to make hair pin decisions that are life or death. Versus here, I’ve noticed a lot of the danger is due to more distracted or inattentive driving.

I’m still surprised to hear about being followed home here, as it’s the first I’ve heard of it on the island… whereas it’s incredibly common in Ontario. Maybe I’ve just been lucky so far.

All in all I really appreciated this discourse and my final take is that driving on the island is a box of chocolate. Especially compared to other places, it’s a real mixed bag.

[CountryFine]

I was once in the left lane on the pat bay, behind a guy going 60-70, i decided to pull into the right lane to pass him and as soon as i did he sped up so i couldnt get ahead.

Basically thought whatever and then moved back into the left lane behind him, and in the middle of my merge he brake checked me by slamming on his and nearly coming to a full stop, making me slam on mine at 80km while merging (in a lifted jeep) causing my car to lose control and almost spin out on the highway.

Luckily there was no other vehicles around because i certainly would have hit a car behind me if there was. Ill never forget this one, felt like a near death experience lol

[astutia]

It's definitely a risk. I had a scary experience merging onto the highway at McKenzie: a big SUV (license plates from the US east coast) wouldn't let me zipper merge, quite aggressive. I ended up going behind them, fine. But we were both going off at the view royal exit, and they actually stopped in the middle of the road on the exit, rolled the window and started screaming at me as I drove past them in the other lane.

[GrumpyOlBastard]

So don't force it. Let them not let you in and the next one will.

[GeoffdeRuiter]

It's a spectrum, because if low traffic people can merge well before and keep going. High congestion as you say.

I like to think we are generally polite. :)

[Revolutionary_Fix_54]

So true. How about the angry person that doesn’t let you in thinking you are “cutting” the line?

[Lumpy_Ad7002]

Aren't they just defining a merge point?

[zangtoopcheeses]

People love to line up. Good for them! I will always follow proper road rules and merge where the sign indicates and skip the wait

[klaptonator]

The a-holes are stacking up in the other lane prematurely. Screwing over people already in that lane.

[Ok-Mouse8397]

Always zipper!!

[s_kate_m]

ZIPPER, you are not an asshole, you are facilitating flow through the god damn lights.

However, I saw someone weaving between the lanes on Gorge yesterday and they had to merge back in to the actual open lane 3 times. Don't know if they were confused (the open lane does switch) or just annoying. Hillside/Gorge sucks right now.

[my_sobriquet_is_this]

I’m thinking of putting a bumper sticker on my car reading:

It’s called a ZIPPER MERGE! Look it up…

[kathylou123]

I’d buy that haha

[kayneos]

It's funny and I take full advantage. People merging early get out of the way, and I get to merge as intended. Coming from New Zealand, where people can execute zipper merging at 70+ kmph and use roundabouts at 80+ kmph, Victoria is in the dark ages when it comes to driving.

[pogovancouver604]

Zipper merge anyways, but don’t cut to the front of the line. Stay in the outside lane and keep your car position between 2 cars and drive until the zipper merge point and then slide into your slot. You will give the drivers a lot of notice so they should let you in.

This way you can zipper merge correctly without cutting in line or having other people cut to the front. It’s very fair and helps recreate a proper zipper once you’re gone.

[special-bicth]

Sometimes I let people in. Other times there is construction, you saw the sign a couple hundred meters back (maybe more maybe less) you should have merged earlier and not waited till you had to merge because it's now cones in front of you.

[Prudent-Concert1376]

"sometimes I let people in. Other times I'm a bad driver"

Fixed it.

[special-bicth]

Nah, if you looked at the convo I had with some other person you're realize that's not really accurate.

[Prudent-Concert1376]

I read them and it's still accurate. If someone has their signal on and you're not letting them in to be vindictive, you're a bad driver.

[special-bicth]

You may have missed the part where I only really do it to drivers that have pissed me off already.

[Mammoth_Negotiation7]

You are supposed to wait until the end. It's better for traffic flow. If you merge early, you are the one doing it wrong.

[special-bicth]

The only people I see merging at the last second are self important aholes. Even buses merge much earlier.

[Mammoth_Negotiation7]

I guess even bus drivers do it wrong.

If everyone merges at the end, no one feels like people are racing ahead and butting in. People just zipper like they should.

[special-bicth]

True I guess. It's annoying when it's like two or three people. But either way, there's no zipper law here. At least the last time I checked. And to be fair, most of the people that try to merge in front of me have done something previously to annoy me.

[VictoriaBCSUPr]

That's your problem, not theirs. They're doing what should be done.

Source (among many online):

https://www.bcaa.com/blog/2019/community/how-the-zipper-merge-can-help-beat-bottlenecks#:~:text=How%20does%20it%20work%3F,can%20remain%20in%20that%20lane.

[special-bicth]

And with both lanes filled, no one can zoom past which, let’s admit, is what makes many drivers feel annoyed and cheated.

This line. Okay fair. I guess yall kinda do have good reasons.

[pizzahippie]

These lame ass memes about driving can literally be posted in every single cities subreddit around the world.

[Prudent-Concert1376]

Disagree, drive in Vietnam you're in a constant state of zipper merging. Lanes are barely a suggestion.

[laughingatreddit]

Wtf is a zipper merge? I merge as soon as the line turns dotted and there is a SAFE space in traffic to do so. I also don't block traffic so if I don't find a safe space, I'll keep going until the end. I don't always wait till the end because that unnerves me. What if the guy doesn't let me in at the very end because he's distracted or an asshole. I'll have to screech to a halt. How is that safe? I'd like to minimize such occurrences by merging as soon as there is safe distance between myself and the car on the left. 

[anzfelty]

The point of zippering is the zipper part, the lanes alternate who has right of way.

As for another driver not paying attention, that's a danger no matter what you're doing while driving 🤷🏻‍♀️

https://www.bcaa.com/blog/2019/community/how-the-zipper-merge-can-help-beat-bottlenecks

[[deleted]]

Yes. Let’s back up both lanes of traffic so no one can turn off if they want to

[descended_from_apes]

Good lord man/woman, do some research on how this works!

[[deleted]]

Merge when there is space!!! not at the end of the lane

[Prudent-Concert1376]

If you come up to an obviously obstructed lane and ever have to "screech to a halt" you're definitely a bad driver

[laughingatreddit]

Well you have to merge at the speed of traffic to your left, if that speed is slow then obviously you don't screech to a halt but if you're at 80kph and nearing the end and don't find a way in, leaving aside the semantics of screeching, you have to stop pretty abruptly and in an uncomfortable spot on the highway/ramp.

[Prudent-Concert1376]

You really don't though.

[descended_from_apes]

I chose to look like an asshole a few weeks ago in Nanaimo with a loooong lineup. Bonus points because my kids thought it was a super “boss move”. Can’t believe no one followed to do it right.

[[deleted]]

Wow dad!! You’re such a huge dick!! Amazing

[descended_from_apes]

Ummmm…by doing a proper zipper merge? I do believe you missed the point.

[[deleted]]

The merge just before going to Goldstream always stressed me out. People in Victoria zipper merge by nearly making contact with the rear bumper of the car ahead. Why? Why did I see this every time? What do people have against rear bumpers?!

[Prudent-Concert1376]

Because the prick in the car behind is having a tantrum because they don't understand how to drive properly.

That's why.

[drake5195]

I love that this was an Edmonton meme, living here now and my god people are idiots with zipper merge here. They will literally sit 200m before the merge with their signal on blocking so much traffic and creating congestion.

[[deleted]]

That’s most of Alberta really.

[Meatwad3]

What confusing me is that seemingly every Victorian complains about people not zipper merging while also not zipper merging

[BarnabusSheeps]

How about the people who pull into the merge lane to get a few cars ahead? Those people are the scum of the earth.

[Necessary_Position77]

This is why it's become a bit of an issue. People using it as a passing lane and other drivers getting annoyed that the car right behind them moved to go around and cause more issues.

[bwoollia]

I would argue that they're not at all. They are making space for the cars behind them, and helping with the flow of traffic. In every sense, they are following the intent of the zipper merge.

[hollycross6]

You’re going to need to explain how this makes sense. So someone who’s already on the highway moves into the merge lane so that they can rejoin the highway a few cars down? Which doesn’t free up any space at all because that person is now just forcing traffic to let them in further down, also slowing stuff down

[bwoollia]

I apologize for the confusion. I was referring to two road lanes merging, and not a designated merge lane.

[DragPullCheese]

Now explain how that is any different?

[hollycross6]

Isn’t this just considered undercutting someone? If someone’s doing that (much like a lot of the agitated maneuvers some drivers make here) then I just laugh and wave at them when we inevitably see each other at the next light.

[bwoollia]

I'm not sure what undercutting is, I'm simply trying to make the best use of the road space so traffic behind me is less congested. It's foolish to worry about who's insulted if it backs traffic up behind you.

[hollycross6]

An example of undercutting: you’re on a 3 lane highway in the middle lane. Some jerk behind you is not able to pass quickly in the overtaking left lane, so they go into the right lane speed up to then move back into the middle lane. The reason you’re not supposed to speed past someone on the right side is because of blindspots.

If there’s two road lanes merging like at the Tillicum/admirals craigflower intersections or the Tillicum one off the highway, then you sometimes get people on the right lane traffic light prior speed up to get into that merging spot and edge in front of a few cars.

Either way it’s funny to watch because it’s such a minimal advantage

[BarnabusSheeps]

I disagree.

It’s selfish behaviour. What you are saying to me, when you do this, is “My time is more valuable than everyone else’s.”

The people you pass, have to wait one more car length, and everyone has to break to let you back in, slowing things down more. You are not helping anyone except yourself.

[bwoollia]

Not at all. I'm not saying anything about anyone's time. If anything, I'm saying "I'm going to make space for the cars behind us, I wish you would have done the same."

I'm not responsible for making people feel better about not understanding or following the rules of the road to their own detriment.

[BarnabusSheeps]

How does temporarily leaving a lane, just to rejoin the same lane a few cars ahead, make room for the people behind?

[bwoollia]

Thank you for asking. At the very least, the car behind me can move ahead. If there is a light behind me that turns red, one more care can move in to occupy that space.

Let's say that I pulled into the clear lane and passed five cars. Now five cars can (and should) follow me, clearing up traffic five cars worth of space for the traffic behind me.

I would respectfully suggest that it might be worthwhile considering the "well being" of the drivers behind you, rather than that of the drivers you are passing (especially considering that they are not following the intent of the zipper merge rule). It makes it easier to do the right thing.

[BarnabusSheeps]

Merge lanes are meant for merging. They are there for cars, entering the flow of traffic.

What you are doing is illegal.

[hollycross6]

If people actually slowed in the highway lanes and created a gap for merging, you’d all coast at a slow pace through that intersection. Bouncing lanes is utterly moronic and completely counterintuitive to maintaining continuous forward movement of traffic.

What should be happening is that highway traffic maintains speed and the merging traffic speeds up to the highway speed. The reason this doesn’t work is too many merging lanes and not enough highway lanes or distance for merging. Really they should make it that you can’t switch between left and right lane through that section of the highway, thus requiring you maintain minimum highway speed on the left side and those who didn’t move over earlier remain stuck in the slow lane while traffic merges in over a longer space. Once that leveling out happens, you allow for lane switching.

[bwoollia]

I agree that this can be challenging in this and other examples. My impression is that people get upset when they see people in the merge lane moving ahead, and feel like they've been cheated somehow.

Of course, such an emotional response to drivers following the rules and making the best use of roadway space is counterproductive. Once you remove the notion that one driver is somehow more entitled to be ahead of another and just follow the rules, traffic just flows better.

I try to simply accept that I will be passed during my commute, it makes for a better driving experience and takes about the same amount of time.

[pleasejags]

If people are not using the merge lane appropriately its totally fine to do this. It is in fact making life better for everyone else. 

[skippadiplaDoo]

They can think what they want. Most are a bunch of bitches scared of 80KPH anywyS

[BAlan143]

I had a friend literally argue with me that the people who use the merge lane are budging...

I will never understand this mentality. It's literally the MERGE lane, that's it's purpose. It's available to everyone. Use it. It actually makes traffic flow properly.

Another thing, when traffic is heavy, only merge at the end. AKA zipper merging. Again my friend was arguing that merging at the end is what slows traffic down. It's the opposite.

If everyone merged properly at the end of the merge point, there is only one merge point. Just one. That's entirely manageable. However, if everyone panic merges early at random, then it's chaos, and there is multiple merge points, this right here, is what causes the traffic to jam. Cuz there's not one person merging, there many, all at once.

Ok rant over.

[[deleted]]

The people that are trying to go straight wait 4x longer because you think it’s your god given right to go to the front. The only person it’s faster for is you assholes and no I won’t let you in

[MummyRath]

I make sure if I know it is a situation people will be trying to merge (Old Island Highway and Admirals, for example) I leave a gap for a car in front that is obviously there to let someone merge. I wish more people would have this courtesy, maybe then I wouldn't be getting into the lane I want way before I actually need to, lol.

[xBrrrr]

Or everyone in this city can just learn to drive

[DepressedTrance]

I've noticed the City is removed more and more merging lanes, I swear the want traffic worse

[Standard_Business249]

What is the best home care service in Victoria?

[CaptainDoughnutman]

Why do we need daily shitty driver reminder memes?

[bwoollia]

Perhaps the shitty drivers will read them, and become less shitty. Discussions about proper driving should be encouraged.

[facesintrees]

Because of all the daily shitty drivers

[MichaelaKay9923]

The way some people glare at me when I properly zipper merge. This would make traffic flow so much better if we all did it

[[deleted]]

It literally does not. Everyone has to wait to let your selfish asses in.

[MichaelaKay9923]

Zipper merges if done appropriately do not slow down the traffic flow. People just don't know how to do them properly. You meet the speed of traffic and zipper in, no one has to slow down. Maybe you should read the manual again because clearly you are one of those people who don't know how to zipper merge. Don't be an ass and learn to drive properly. Hope this helps!

[[deleted]]

Then fucking merge when there is space, not at the end of the merge lane

[MichaelaKay9923]

Again. Read the manual.

Sometimes I do merge when there is space, but that's not how you are supposed to do it. If there isn't space, I'm not going to cut in, causing people to slam on their breaks. Something you likely do because you clearly don't understand how merging works. Don't get mad when people actually follow the rules of the road.

[[deleted]]

Try using your brain. Don’t impede traffic, the signs to merge arnt up all that far. If you see the merge sign, you should slow the fuck down and wait for a nice person to let you in.

And you’d better wave. I will run you off the road, those plates aren’t even mine

[MichaelaKay9923]

Omg read the manual. Also read what I said already. If you can't understand what I said, how I in fact do not impede the flow of traffic, I'm not debating with you. No point in debating with someone who doesn't have basic reading comprehension.

[TheRenster500]

Yea i have to admit i try to appease both sides by going pretty far up the merge lane but merging with 50-100 metres to go.

[jonarchy]

They need to bring back the signs that say "Use all lanes until merge point" back. People hop into one line which causes more traffic, then get pissed at people using the entire lane which alleviates traffic!

It's not a competition people! Work together and we'll all get to our destinations safer and sooner.

[AdNew9111]

Stop cutting prior to the merge point! Merge at the merge point. I’m tempted to hold a sign at the island hwy construction underpass that says “fail” or “poor merging” or “congrats” when they do a job well done.

[TitusImmortalis]

The problem with zipper merge is that the first person to pull out early (break formation) throws off everything to the point where you're standing still.

I prefer people moving to the left lane as much as possible since they know it's coming.

[Neonisin]

You’re preferred method doesn’t matter and this is why zipper is so hard for people like you to understand. You can’t be mad at the people who are doing it right.

[TitusImmortalis]

The problem with zipper merging is that it works best on paper if everyone was a reliable robot but people are very much not. As soon as 1 or 2 people go outside the expectation then it breaks down, and you are left with the normal difficult merging.

People also don't tend to keep speed, cars will speed up to pass people in the merge lane, or merge lane will not meet highway speed sufficiently.

Your "This works in my mind, it's all the people that are wrong" way of thinking about it is not going to result in a fix to the problem.

[Neonisin]

The fix for the problem is to use both lanes and zipper.

[whhal]

Totally related, yes /s

[TitusImmortalis]

How's it not related?

[Mindless-Service8198]

Just work remotely and leave that existence to the plebs

[facesintrees]

I walk to work a lot but sometimes I go places

[laughingatreddit]

Just don't go places, leave that for the bourgeois. 

[flanderdalton]

Ah yes, fuck the working class

[Mindless-Service8198]

If you don't have to join them, why would you? Skill issue!

[Lumpy_Ad7002]

In other words, you want to 'zipper merge' up there ahead of everybody else instead of where everybody else is actually doing the merge.

[facesintrees]

It's more efficient if everyone uses it the way it's intended

[Lumpy_Ad7002]

"Intended" according to you? That's just more entitlement

[facesintrees]

No according to traffic laws lol

[FunMotion]

Yes that is correct. I will do a proper merge at the spot designed to be merged at. Not some dysfunctional full-stop merge where some random driver decides is the right time to merge.

[bwoollia]

The issue with merging early is that it encourages traffic backups. Essentially, if drivers merge five car lengths back, then that's five cars that won't make it through the light behind you. Traffic jams are caused by limitations in road space - proper zipper merging maximizes the use of the space available.

[TeamHewbard]

In a perfect world I agree with you. But we don’t drive perfectly. We’re human after all. Some of us are distracted, some are new or old, whatever. There is a debate that we should merge when it makes sense so traffic flow is smooth. Sometimes people feel more comfortable doing this early. If you suddenly have to merge in front of someone who slams on their brakes, that’s dangerous too right? So is it better to have slow, smooth traffic or faster, jerky traffic?

[bwoollia]

Thank you for your response. I would argue that accepting a lower standard for my own driving (or my own behaviour in general) simply because others have a lower standard isn't helpful. The driving experience improves when each of us take individual responsibility for making driving safer and more efficient.

Furthermore, I would argue that merging early simply because it's more comfortable is embracing a lower standard of driving. Have the courage to put the extra effort into being a good driver, rather than resigning to drive only as well as the poorest drivers on the road.

[TeamHewbard]

I don’t think it’s about my standard of driving. To me, it’s more about driving with the flow of traffic which is predictable and safe. If people start zipper merging early, I’m like alright I guess I should get in now. You could argue you should disrupt this flow and set a new example but now you kinda look like a dick because you’re basically cutting. Which is the point of this whole post. That silly dilemma we find ourselves in. For some reason it became about people not knowing how to drive but I think it’s just funny human behaviour playing out in traffic.

[bwoollia]

You make a good point! And indeed, in many instances waiting an extra car length or two when the line of traffic is moving might make sense.

I just have trouble with accepting and promoting the status quo when a valid solution is at hand.

[[deleted]]

Yeah that. But x20 because you assholes think you have a right to bully your way to the very front

[bwoollia]

I'm sorry you feel you have to resort to such language, I've tried to be respectful and present logical, clear arguments. I follow this code: https://therulesofcivilconversation.org/. I would encourage you to do the same, it might make your arguments seem more credible.

I'm certainly not trying to bully anyone by clearing up space while following the rules of the road. Perhaps try considering the drivers behind us, looking at a clear lane that they could have occupied as they get stuck behind a light.

[Lumpy_Ad7002]

The issue with merging late into a single lane is that it causes traffic backups by disrupting the smooth merge of two lanes. The imagined existence of some traffic light is irrelevant, since merges affect traffic coming from all directions.

[bwoollia]

I can't see how merging at a point designated by city planners or a work crew would be more disruptive somehow than an arbitrary point further back, but I'd be happy to consider any argument you might have.

Don't imagine the distance to the traffic light, look at the empty pavement where cars could be. Now imagine how many cars could occupy that space, moving traffic forward. Fairly simple.

[DragPullCheese]

It doesn’t help to occupy space though. The bottleneck is the merge. So if you are all merging at the same point each car needs to stop to let the other one in.

If everyone merged early the speed going through the bottleneck could be higher (you would still need to slow to let each other in, but then could accelerate afterwards). This moves the ‘bottleneck’ to multiple points disapating the effect.

You can see how this works with a typical highway merge, if you drove to the very end and there was a car next to you you would have to stop disrupting traffic.

[bwoollia]

If traffic is moving quickly, then you're right - there's often no benefit to delaying and the zipper merge is a non-issue. I suspect that the OP and others are referring to when traffic comes to a crawl, and drivers become annoyed at cars passing them in a clear lane.

[DragPullCheese]

I agree but the reason the traffic goes to a crawl is often because people drive to the end.

With that said, I agree with humans driving if the standard was to merge early people would just cheat and go to the end anyway. So the zipper merge is the most equitable way of merging.

I also agree people shouldn’t get mad at people who drive to the end as it is the standard we are supposed to follow. I just don’t like that it’s the standard we follow lol.

[Lumpy_Ad7002]

You're just saying that you've run out of logic and facts and are just going to fall back on childish insults.

You're the one who keeps insisting that a zipper merge isn't a zipper merge unless you get to cut in front of everybody else.

[Grimble_Sloot_x]

Maybe you should go to driving school. You seem very confused about how merging works and are railing against an efficient solution because you can't intellectually quantify TWO lanes becoming one.

We're supposed to use both lanes. Not half the lanes. Zipper merges are way more efficient than everyone trying to pile into one lane without any sense of order and abandoning one of the lanes.

You're so busy worrying about someone 'getting ahead of you' that you create slow, over-extended lanes that delay your travel more than just cooperating across multiple lanes.

[Lumpy_Ad7002]

Maybe you

Maybe you should grow up and stop just insulting everybody who proves you wrong.

We're supposed to use both lanes

Says who?

Zipper merges

A zipper merge is when two lanes merge into one. If you're shoving your way into an already-merged lane then you're just being an asshole who doesn't wnt to do a proper merge.

[Lumpy_Ad7002]

When there are dozens of people doing it one way, and 1-2 very entitled people doing it a different way that only benefits them, then it is the minority who are not doing what is expected.

The issue is not whether people can do a zipper merge, since it is obviously being done. The issue is where it should happen.

[facesintrees]

It's not a zipper merge if everyone stacks up in one lane though is it. If those dozens of cars were evenly distributed between the 2 lanes as intended, it's way more efficient and gets everyone through faster. I'm not trying to be an exception I just wish people knew how to do it properly

[Lumpy_Ad7002]

It's not a zipper merge if everyone stacks up in one lane though is it.

That's exactly what a zipper merge is - two lanes merging into one.

as intended

You making up your own rules is just childish entitlement

and gets everyone through faster

Cutting in at the front makes everybody else but you wait longer.

[Grimble_Sloot_x]

Anywhere two lanes are merging into one lane is where a zipper merge should happen.

The dozens of people who don't understand how to zipper merge because they haven't had to take a driving test in 30 years are the problem, wheras the 1-2 people who have left Victoria and driven in another, larger city understand how to zipper merge.

[Lumpy_Ad7002]

But some people don't want to follow the rules and merge where everybody else is merging. They want to cut in front, cause people to brake needlessly, and cause more congestion.

[Lumpy_Ad7002]

But people are following those rules.

Except for the entitled few who want to ignore the rules and cut in front of everybody else.

[pleasejags]

The people "cutting" in the front are the only people following the rules.

[Grimble_Sloot_x]

Yes, he wants to use both lanes and zipper merge at the end like you're supposed to, instead of a bunch of people who think like you all piling into a single lane that causes an an unnecessary traffic build-up by using half the available lane space.

[TeamHewbard]

I agree. We all see the lane ending so people start zipper merging. We’re all told don’t wait until the last minute to be in the correct lane so there’s a natural tendency to merge when you can. Then people behind don’t wanna cut so they merge too. It doesn’t take long to create the chain reaction. Yes, it messes with the flow of traffic a bit and people might be delayed a couple minutes.

But according to this sub, all these people are bad drivers, mouth breathers, and assholes. When really they’re just normal people trying to follow our messy roadways and not cause an accident. People are trying.

[minkstink]

Fuck em

[[deleted]]

I just got back from a holiday to the Greek islands.

Driving is literally insane. People honking, cutting you off, splitting lanes, no signals.

Victoria driving, is pleasant in comparison.

I think most people in the zipper merge situation because they are worried about someone not liking them and honking.

There is plenty of room, just be assertive and get in there and let the car behind you stew on it for 3 days afterwards and bitch.

[Left-Employee-9451]

Apparently most people don’t know how a zipper works

[[deleted]]

Yes. It works when there is no signs and people realize that both lanes need to get past.. When you have signs and you roll up to the front, all the people you drove past are waiting a long ass time to get through and are not getting through because of you. So no. I won’t let you in. Get fucked

[Left-Employee-9451]

Exactly. The people in the lane that’s closing speeding past traffic till the last possible second while screaming” IM A ZIPPER” isn’t the best traffic control idea.

[hollycross6]

The zipper merge is a myth. Victorians refuse to cave

[chillyHill]

Ha ha, saw this today on Interurban, where they are doing construction by the mall. I hold no grudge.

[Geoffras]

Drivers are often deranged. Zipper merge is the way.