The Zipper Merge

[GGG]

Originally Posted by 4X4

I love how the people that take the inside lane on a dual turn act like I'm cheating or budding by taking the outside lane and then merging once we're through the light. For reference, one place this always happens is WB Anderson to SB Mcleod. It's a dual left turn, and the outer lane (right lane) merges in to the left lane as you go down the ramp, and then it merges with Mcleod. Everyone piles up in the left lane at the red light, and I mosey up on the right lane. Light turns green, and all the people in the left lane just gun it and tailgate each other to box me out, because I had the nerve to make use of the extra lane that's designed to get more traffic through per light.

Don't worry about me, though. I have a way of forcing myself in. My signal light is not me asking your permission to enter the lane, it's me telling you that I'm entering the lane. And I can handle seeing you flip me off in my rearview. Doesn't hurt my feelings that you're a crappy, insecure tool of a driver.


https://www.google.ca/maps/@50.95020...!3m1!1e3?hl=en

When do you merge?

The lane markings on that one are poor because you have a dashed line immediately after the intersection when there should be a solid line through the S curve then a zipper. The solid line from the merge lane to McLeod is properly marked though.

I think they should just rip people's license who fail to use the optimal lane on the dual turn. I've seen it backup so it actually blocks the entrance to the turning lanes

[Jimmy Stang]

One small adjustment that I have seen in England that could be used over here are road markings that don't favour one lane over the other. This is for permanent areas where a lane ends, and not for construction.

After a set of lights, roundabout, etc. in England, you will often see a series of arrows blending two lanes into one, rather than a dashed line that implies that lane A is uninterrupted, and lane B ends. I honestly feel that contributes to the feeling of entitlement of those in lane A, because lane B ending is lane B's problem.

For example:

Streetview: https://www.google.ca/maps/@52.65142...7i13312!8i6656

And satellite: https://www.google.ca/maps/@52.65128.../data=!3m1!1e3

Just through road markings alone, the UK version says to me : "blend, merge, be one!" And the Canadian version says : "Your lane ends - not my problem." While that may not be true under the law, there is definitely a sense of entitlement over lanes here when one ends, or a merge is required.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Light turns green, and all the people in the left lane just gun it and tailgate each other to box me out, because I had the nerve to make use of the extra lane that's designed to get more traffic through per light.

The funniest part about that is, while one person guns it and rides the bumper in front to box you out, a nice spot always opens up right behind them where you can slide right in. Congratulations - they won the merge race by one car. Slow clap. I still got through a light that I wouldn't have if I had queued up in the other lane (like they probably had to wait one cycle or more for), so I'm still saving more time.