Zipping (Merging Phenom)

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   Zipping helps traffic flow.  Want a great example check the HOV bridge right at the city.  

	The area where the merge starts a bunch of cars cut right over and the traffic slows, up at the end when the lane runs out everyone just rolls into place and the line keeps moving.  If all the cars lined up, merged where they were supposed to one at a time the whole thing would move quickly, but cars cut in, then get passed by another car, and the result is the main lane slows.

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colossus911 Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 19 May 2006 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote colossus911 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 26 Oct 2006 at 3:45pm
	Zipping helps traffic flow. Want a great example check the HOV bridge right at the city. The area where the merge starts a bunch of cars cut right over and the traffic slows, up at the end when the lane runs out everyone just rolls into place and the line keeps moving. If all the cars lined up, merged where they were supposed to one at a time the whole thing would move quickly, but cars cut in, then get passed by another car, and the result is the main lane slows.

sluDgE Members Profile Find Members Posts Master Slug Joined: 27 Oct 2003 Status: Offline Points: 501	Post Options Post Reply Quote sluDgE Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 26 Oct 2006 at 5:11pm
	So, it's not zipping from lane to lane at overly high speeds endangering life and limb of everyone on the highway! [B)] Wonderful! [8D] But don't see it actually working around here on the NoVA highways. [:(] There are just too many "me-first-ers"![V]

SpongeBob Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 06 Oct 2004 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote SpongeBob Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 Oct 2006 at 10:07am
	(An aside from the thread... Hey, Elemental, did you drive on any of California's vaunted toll roads? What was your experience with them?) Thanks. Now back to your regularly scheduled program.

Galah Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote Galah Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 Oct 2006 at 10:39am
	Tend to agree that zipping, as defined, is a good thing, but not uniformly implemented in this country, some states encourage their drivers to merge as soon as possible and NOT wait till the end of the merge lane (and post signs that say this). Given the regions scarcity of permanent resisdents .....we're stuck in the muddle Disagree about tailgating causing the slinky affect on I-95 south of exit 152, That's trucks trying to go uphills. Ever see what happens when a truck doing 66 mph tries to pass a truck doing 65 mph, going uphill...it can take a while...then add the car in the left lane who is doing 67 mph (he USED to be in the right lane, but now he's passing those two trucks....) heck it'll take those folks 3 hills before they complete THAT manoeuvre.....

sluDgE Members Profile Find Members Posts Master Slug Joined: 27 Oct 2003 Status: Offline Points: 501	Post Options Post Reply Quote sluDgE Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 Oct 2006 at 10:43am
	In case you didn't know ... Those stop-go lights are at several N&S-bound on-ramps for the I-395 regular lanes at places like Landmark, Quaker Lane, King Street, Seminary Road, etc. Do they work? Not really. Most cars on the ramp just ignore them. And the lights aren't activated until 6:30 in the AM and 3:30 in the PM. We wonder if turning on the morning lights a 1/2 hour earlier would reduce the usual morning backup at Duke Street/Landmark. But since drivers ignore the lights anyway, probably not.

Elemental Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 26 Oct 2006 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote Elemental Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 Oct 2006 at 11:51am
	quote: Originally posted by SpongeBob [br](An aside from the thread... Hey, Elemental, did you drive on any of California's vaunted toll roads? What was your experience with them?) Thanks. Now back to your regularly scheduled program. Can't give you any input there, no toll roads in my area. I did occasionally use the toll roads in Orange county, but only after hours when they were open to all traffic...

Oosik Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 15 Dec 2005 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote Oosik Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 31 Oct 2006 at 12:37pm
	In Germany they actually teach drivers to use all lanes and then merge at the end. This system works and often prevents cars from building up to reach into moving car lanes. More importantly, it prevents @#$%^%'s, who bypass all the cars, from going to to the head of the line and trying to cut in. Zipping is effective and I have seen it done in many places in this area. The only problem is the guy who doesn't want to wait his turn and tries to squeeze in when it's the other guy's turn. I guess another problem is that you may come across a situation where a traffic build up has already begun and only one lane is being utilized. If you bypass all the cars and try to start a second merge lane, you might be the one considered to be the @#$%^%.

sable2 Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 31 Jul 2006 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote sable2 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 Nov 2006 at 10:41am
	Ok.. so that's what common sense is called... "zipping"... Hmm! Enjoy!