it's true that this won't improve traffic flow at the bottleneck but at least it reduces the queue. it might reduce traffic congestion further back, say if there were an intersection
Minnesotans are such passive-aggressive drivers, I've seen people in the merging lane pace the stop-and-go of the continuing lane, literally stopping traffic hundreds of feet before the merge point, just to piss people off. If I had a dash cam, I could make a comedy channel just from my daily commute.
The main issue is that Minnesotan's don't know how to drive! Worse yet, they visit other states where people do know how to drive properly and then they cause even more problems as tourists.
I think it's funny that people all pile up in one lane a mile before they need to. It opens up my lane to LEGALLY drive all the way up to the merge. Please keep this marvel of efficiency a secret so I keep my fast lane. Anyone who thinks it's a good idea to crawl along while people fly by in the other lane is an idiot.
In my opinion and my experience, all this does is reduce the distance of the backup, not your wait time. It looks like a shorter congestion, but you're still shoving the same amount of vehicles through the same bottleneck, so it's no faster. It's pretty.
@Drux10zn Sorry but you are wrong here. Part of the slow down is people moving slow with traffic, they are less likely to move slow when competing for a spot in the zipper. Zippers move slow, people lining up comes to a total stop. Zippers have been proven to work in many many studies.
@Drux10zn It does a couple of things, with a known merge point and a more controlled merge there are less accidents compared to when a driver will randomly stop and try to merge well before. Also there are places where there may be an off ramp and congesting the lane prevents traffic from flowing off the road and increases the backup
I have been advocating this for more than 30 years. MnDOT has finally started to advocate it officially this month. Better late than never, it has been in use for several years around the world, and I believe the term "ZIPPER MERGE" originated in Australia. I never knew what to call it, but " ZIPPER MERGE" is perfect, and the term is already in use in other areas of the world.
WBLentertainer should learn to cooperate with others. Driving on our roads should not be a competition. Yeah MNDot !
I don't buy this at all. First there are people in the lane you want to merge into that REFUSE to let you in. What then, hit them or they hit you? Either way it's partially your fault. Are police going to give tickets to these people? Too many offensive drivers in MN as it is.
I've seen traffic backed up for 2 miles for an 1/4 mile long lane closure. I cruised in the left lane doing about 45 and merged about 200 ft before the close. Took me less than a minute to go through the 1/4 mile lane close area. Then I was back to doing 45, while everyone else waited for 10 to 15 minutes 2 miles back
sheesh. more people need to see this video. it's common sense to do the zipper merge at all times because it makes better use of the road that is still available. I hate it when I see a WIIIIIIDE open lane that NO ONE is using! Dear MnDot--please use the "use both lanes message" more often, and people will get the point!
this music is abysmal
alphashadow3 3 months ago
it's true that this won't improve traffic flow at the bottleneck but at least it reduces the queue. it might reduce traffic congestion further back, say if there were an intersection
thesniffysniffy 6 months ago
Minnesotans are such passive-aggressive drivers, I've seen people in the merging lane pace the stop-and-go of the continuing lane, literally stopping traffic hundreds of feet before the merge point, just to piss people off. If I had a dash cam, I could make a comedy channel just from my daily commute.
iraleecantellia 6 months ago
Minnesotans are being courteous here. All the people who like sitting in there car for hours listening to the radio or whatever sit in the right lane.
And the people who want to get home to see there kids or whatever there destination is...use the left lane
zReDYeLLoWGReeNz 7 months ago
Who are the 2 jerks that don't like this video?
claudiuceus 7 months ago
The main issue is that Minnesotan's don't know how to drive! Worse yet, they visit other states where people do know how to drive properly and then they cause even more problems as tourists.
dougdes612 8 months ago
I think it's funny that people all pile up in one lane a mile before they need to. It opens up my lane to LEGALLY drive all the way up to the merge. Please keep this marvel of efficiency a secret so I keep my fast lane. Anyone who thinks it's a good idea to crawl along while people fly by in the other lane is an idiot.
mpcluever 8 months ago 11
@mpcluever I typically thought of people that did this as impatient assholes. Now they are actually just being smarter than the rest of us.
glirkdient 6 months ago 7
@mpcluever
You're just a dick bro.
BMason3604 1 week ago 3
In my opinion and my experience, all this does is reduce the distance of the backup, not your wait time. It looks like a shorter congestion, but you're still shoving the same amount of vehicles through the same bottleneck, so it's no faster. It's pretty.
Drux10zn 9 months ago 14
@Drux10zn Sorry but you are wrong here. Part of the slow down is people moving slow with traffic, they are less likely to move slow when competing for a spot in the zipper. Zippers move slow, people lining up comes to a total stop. Zippers have been proven to work in many many studies.
HistoricLife 7 months ago
@Drux10zn It also makes for a more consistant driving experience, less stop and go.
franpa3 6 months ago
@Drux10zn It does a couple of things, with a known merge point and a more controlled merge there are less accidents compared to when a driver will randomly stop and try to merge well before. Also there are places where there may be an off ramp and congesting the lane prevents traffic from flowing off the road and increases the backup
roobenhawk 1 month ago
I noticed when road construction is finished for an area, the last thing to be removed is the "xxx lane only".
British1500 9 months ago
It will only work if EVERYBODY follows the every other rule otherwise this is a disaster.
beccaj93 9 months ago 2
I have been advocating this for more than 30 years. MnDOT has finally started to advocate it officially this month. Better late than never, it has been in use for several years around the world, and I believe the term "ZIPPER MERGE" originated in Australia. I never knew what to call it, but " ZIPPER MERGE" is perfect, and the term is already in use in other areas of the world.
WBLentertainer should learn to cooperate with others. Driving on our roads should not be a competition. Yeah MNDot !
dave1938MNDot 9 months ago
I don't buy this at all. First there are people in the lane you want to merge into that REFUSE to let you in. What then, hit them or they hit you? Either way it's partially your fault. Are police going to give tickets to these people? Too many offensive drivers in MN as it is.
WBLentertainer 9 months ago
I've seen traffic backed up for 2 miles for an 1/4 mile long lane closure. I cruised in the left lane doing about 45 and merged about 200 ft before the close. Took me less than a minute to go through the 1/4 mile lane close area. Then I was back to doing 45, while everyone else waited for 10 to 15 minutes 2 miles back
mattcintosh2 9 months ago
sheesh. more people need to see this video. it's common sense to do the zipper merge at all times because it makes better use of the road that is still available. I hate it when I see a WIIIIIIDE open lane that NO ONE is using! Dear MnDot--please use the "use both lanes message" more often, and people will get the point!
Linaeve 9 months ago