Gear Grinding 6: I'm So Over This.

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

Re: Gear Grinding 6: I'm So Over This.

As I said, if you have never been through it, and are unaware it's coming, there is no warning until it's too late. That being said, it's still a poorly designed intersection.

I can't seem to dig up any old photos, but the alternative was basically hoping that the cars creeping downhill on Bridge St. didn't lose control and slide through the intersections at Montezuma and Sheldon. Also, having to stop traffic in all four directions, rather than keeping it flowing. That was how it used to be, before they built the Loop.

 

[Foxton]

Re: Gear Grinding 6: I'm So Over This.

As I said, if you have never been through it, and are unaware it's coming, there is no warning until it's too late. That being said, it's still a poorly designed intersection.

Don't speed through downtown and read the signs. It's just a one way roundabout, nothing to get so worked up over.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Gear Grinding 6: I'm So Over This.

As I said, if you have never been through it, and are unaware it's coming, there is no warning until it's too late. That being said, it's still a poorly designed intersection.

There was a time I had to go through it for a first time, it wasn't difficult. In fact, my first time driving through it was when I went to visit Tech for a campus tour. Rolled into town during a whiteout at about 2AM, and this was before they reworked it to make it less confusing. Bottom line is, its not hard to figure out. Any other way to set up that intersection would be much worse.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Gear Grinding 6: I'm So Over This.

Don't speed through downtown and read the signs. It's just a one way roundabout, nothing to get so worked up over.

Leaving the loop is easy. It's arriving and not knowing you have to be in the right lane, due to lack of signage until the last minute that got me.

 

[aparch]

Re: Gear Grinding 6: I'm So Over This.

The zipper merge is only effective if EVERYONE uses it. I've seen signs in construction areas telling people to use it - something like 'USE FULL LANE' or 'STAY IN YOUR LANE'. Some people might be confused by that - there's no good way to word it on a sign. They need to fit "We're making you stay in this lane until it actually closes and the nice people to your right should let you into their lane, alternating each car". This does NOT excuse dumbasses who swerve out of the exit only lane at the last second, because that's no zipper merge. That's being a *******.

A. Fu**ing. Men. Preach sister!!

Related, people who do not know or care that it's illegal to cross a solid white/orange line grind my gears. The line is there for a reason.

Can I get another Amen for the congregation?

As someone who directly deals with some of you pompous blowhards in these construction zones ( ) :
- Zipper Merges only work if EVERYONE zipper mergers. That a**hole racing up behind someone in the soon to be closing lane to try and squeeze in disrupts the zipper merge.

- An ideal blend of traffic lane reductions is both those who merge early AND who also zipper merge.

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Gear Grinding 6: I'm So Over This.

Uh, it's not illegal to cross a single solid white line. I know this is true for Minnesota and Michigan.

Double solids are illegal to cross.

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Gear Grinding 6: I'm So Over This.

Also, **** the a holes who block the zipper merge. They are worse than Stalin.

Frankly, you're supposed to fill in that second lane. It's not my fault you merged too early.

 

[bigmrg74]

Re: Gear Grinding 6: I'm So Over This.

The oil price you see on the news is a futures price, not what it presently costs them. Plus, the sudden changes in futures prices creates an artificial demand, so they have to buy more product at the higher price to compensate.

Although if you're in the midwest, looks like there's a refinery problem: https://blog.gasbuddy.com/posts/Gre...nplanned-Refining-Issue/1715-621794-3219.aspx

Crap, and its also race weekend at MIS this weekend, that sure as hell explains the **** price jump I saw between yesterday and today. darn near jumped 30 cents around here.

 

[bigmrg74]

Re: Gear Grinding 6: I'm So Over This.

Also, **** the a holes who block the zipper merge. They are worse than Stalin.

Frankly, you're supposed to fill in that second lane. It's not my fault you merged too early.

Its one thing if you're over there and traffic is still moving. I'll let you in. But if traffic is already slowing down to a craw and I see you drive by me at least several cars ahead of me? F U buddy!!

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Gear Grinding 6: I'm So Over This.

Yeah, but at least I'm secure in knowing I'm not the ******* in that situation. C

 

[hockeyplayer1015]

I don't think so. For a car approaching the circle, the circle traffic is on the left - which would give the entering car the right of way. For the car in the circle, the approaching car is always to the right, which means that the car in the circle must yield to the entering car.

That said - it's New Jersey. Might makes right.

Absolutely wrong. Entering traffic into most rotaries I've experienced has the yield. By your logic, traffic on typical right-lane entrance ramps to interstates have right of way, since traffic on the interstate is to the left.

Only time I've experienced otherwise is in Portsmouth, NH where there were 2 lanes entering a 3 lane rotary. Right entering lane was pretty much free-flowing to the next exit off the rotary.

 

[Slap Shot]

Its one thing if you're over there and traffic is still moving. I'll let you in. But if traffic is already slowing down to a craw and I see you drive by me at least several cars ahead of me? F U buddy!!

Why are you blaming others for your failure to properly execute the zipper lane strategy?

 

[jen]

Re: Gear Grinding 6: I'm So Over This.

Uh, it's not illegal to cross a single solid white line. I know this is true for Minnesota and Michigan.

Double solids are illegal to cross.

Like I said, it's illegal in Wisconsin. I've even seen street signs quoting the statute that says it's illegal. You can cross a solid white line only if you're avoiding a hazard (like something in the road) or turning in the next block.

Certainly not in traffic shifts in construction zones, which is where I most often see it. On ramps, off ramps, intersections where 2 lanes turn... people are idiots.

Its one thing if you're over there and traffic is still moving. I'll let you in. But if traffic is already slowing down to a craw and I see you drive by me at least several cars ahead of me? F U buddy!!

That's not how a zipper merge works. You're supposed to stay in your lane until you physically can't anymore, therefore using all the available roadway. Studies have shown it is more efficient for traffic flow, but only if EVERYONE does it and people don't get offended and ruin the system by refusing to do it.

by the way, if anyone hasn't read it - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Traffic-Drive-What-Says-About/dp/0307277194">Traffic - Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us)</a> by Tom Vanderbilt is a really interesting book.

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Gear Grinding 6: I'm So Over This.

According to WisDOT, a solid white line between lanes is only a zone where crossing it is "discouraged". It's not illegal to cross it.

http://www1.wisconsindot.gov/dtsdManuals/traffic-ops/manuals-and-standards/pmo/pmom.pdf

Crossing the "fog line" is illegal and crossing lines where a sign specifically states do no cross is illegal. But generally it's not illegal. Just discouraged.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Gear Grinding 6: I'm So Over This.

Its one thing if you're over there and traffic is still moving. I'll let you in. But if traffic is already slowing down to a craw and I see you drive by me at least several cars ahead of me? F U buddy!!

Then the concept of the zipper merge is obviously too complicated for your to figure out. Maybe consider forfeiting your driver's license.

 

[jen]

Re: Gear Grinding 6: I'm So Over This.

According to WisDOT, a solid white line between lanes is only a zone where crossing it is "discouraged". It's not illegal to cross it.

http://www1.wisconsindot.gov/dtsdManuals/traffic-ops/manuals-and-standards/pmo/pmom.pdf

Crossing the "fog line" is illegal and crossing lines where a sign specifically states do no cross is illegal. But generally it's not illegal. Just discouraged.

<a href="http://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/dmv/shared/bds126-motorists-handbook.pdf">October 2014, WI DOT Motorists' Handbook</a>:

White lane markings. Multiple lanes of travel in the same direction are separated by white lane markings. You will find white lane markings on freeways and one-way streets, for example. Dashed white lines between lanes of traffic mean you may
cross the lines to pass or change lanes if it is safe to do so. A solid white line between lanes of traffic means you should
stay in your lane unless a special situation requires you to change lanes. You should not cross the line except to avoid
a hazard or unless you are turning within the next block.

you quoted the operations manual for the people who draw the lines that is applicable only to state highways. what page did you find that statement on, btw? because it sounds a lot like what I read about the Michigan law and I couldn't find it in the Wisconsin document you linked.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Gear Grinding 6: I'm So Over This.

<a href="http://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/dmv/shared/bds126-motorists-handbook.pdf">October 2014, WI DOT Motorists' Handbook</a>:



you quoted the operations manual for the people who draw the lines that is applicable only to state highways. what page did you find that statement on, btw? because it sounds a lot like what I read about the Michigan law and I couldn't find it in the Wisconsin document you linked.

And in NYS, you're not allowed to cross the white line to the shoulder in order to turn. Is there any sort of consideration as such there?

 

[FreshFish]

Re: Gear Grinding 6: I'm So Over This.

Also, **** the a holes who block the zipper merge. They are worse than Stalin.

Frankly, you're supposed to fill in that second lane. It's not my fault you merged too early.

once the second line actually has started to narrow down into the first lane, the folks who zoom around those who are merging appropriately to try to squeeze a few more cars ahead are really annoying. Once the extra lane has already narrowed down to less than half its width, straddling the line actually helps traffic flow because by that time everyone is already supposed to be taking turns moving into the single open lane.

 

[bigmrg74]

Re: Gear Grinding 6: I'm So Over This.

Then the concept of the zipper merge is obviously too complicated for your to figure out. Maybe consider forfeiting your driver's license.

The Zipper is supposed to be done when while the traffic is still flowing at a good pace. Once that backup happens and you're a jerk enough to keep on driving on up until the the orange barrels and park it with your blinker on waiting for traffic to stop and let you in is what jams up traffic. I'm not the one that's going to stop the flow of traffic just to let your jerkface self in.

once the second line actually has started to narrow down into the first lane, the folks who zoom around those who are merging appropriately to try to squeeze a few more cars ahead are really annoying. Once the extra lane has already narrowed down to less than half its width, straddling the line actually helps traffic flow because by that time everyone is already supposed to be taking turns moving into the single open lane.

Right. Zipper over into the line starts to slow down, but don't keep on driving down to where you would have you have to stop and wait for traffic to let you in.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Gear Grinding 6: I'm So Over This.

The Zipper is supposed to be done when while the traffic is still flowing at a good pace. Once that backup happens and you're a jerk enough to keep on driving on up until the the orange barrels and park it with your blinker on waiting for traffic to stop and let you in is what jams up traffic. I'm not the one that's going to stop the flow of traffic just to let your jerkface self in.

You're wrong. Period. You're part of the problem. In a backup is the MOST correct time to do a zipper merge!