Gear Grinding 6: I'm So Over This.

[bigmrg74]

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

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

So what your telling me if the open lane is backed up a half mile and is just creeping along at about 5 miles an hour and some guy drives past you that half mile and ends up parking it at the end of the closing lane waiting for someone to stop that whole line of traffic to let him in? how am I the jerk if I don't let him in?

 

[bigblue_dl]

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

So what your telling me if the open lane is backed up a half mile and is just creeping along at about 5 miles an hour and some guy drives past you that half mile and ends up parking it at the end of the closing lane waiting for someone to stop that whole line of traffic to let him in? how am I the jerk if I don't let him in?

Because everyone should use all lanes until the lane ends during a backup. If you don't let him in, you're not only a jerk, you're a ****ing idiot for not understanding how to drive properly.

 

[St. Clown]

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

So what your telling me if the open lane is backed up a half mile and is just creeping along at about 5 miles an hour and some guy drives past you that half mile and ends up parking it at the end of the closing lane waiting for someone to stop that whole line of traffic to let him in? how am I the jerk if I don't let him in?

If traffic is actually moving along at something more than a crawl, and that guy has parked himself at the end of the open section for the lane that's closing, then he's a bad driver or was cut off by a jerk. He should have used the end of the lane to merge at the speed of traffic.

And if there's a huge back up of traffic in a single lane while the next lane over that's eventually closing is still open, then you're just a fool. Don't get mad at the guy using the lane the way it's intended to be used.

 

[jen]

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

So what your telling me if the open lane is backed up a half mile and is just creeping along at about 5 miles an hour and some guy drives past you that half mile and ends up parking it at the end of the closing lane waiting for someone to stop that whole line of traffic to let him in? how am I the jerk if I don't let him in?

If the closing lane is doing the zipper merge correctly, there's no one going past you, because both lanes are going slow and are completely full. The only way the open lane is stopped and no one is in the closing lane is because they aren't doing the zipper merge correctly either.

The empty road space is there, and it's supposed to be used. That's the whole point of the zipper merge. Otherwise there's unused space in the closing lane because everyone tries to jam into the open lane too early. A zipper only works correctly if it goes left-right-left-right-left-right.

And if there IS someone going past you in the closing lane and you're backed up in the open lane - they're the ones doing it right, and shouldn't be punished.

 

[aparch]

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

I think the problem lies in each state's lane closure procedures.

IDOT is different from the Illinois Tollway (although both do utilize the same specification book, ISTHA modified the specs for their use); and both are different from MDOT's lane closure standards.

Minnesota is doing yeomans work in informing drivers on how to zipper merge. Wisco, it sounds like, is closing fast.

Illinois and Michigan could give two sh**s about the zipper merge.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

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

Doesn't matter if it's construction or a regular highway merge. The way to do it is exactly the same. Given Minnesota has some occurrences of reverse lane split (I-94 heading west from the loop around the MSP area), they should know about the zipper merge.

NYS (at least central/western) doesn't do too badly with the concept of the zipper merge. It all has to do with driver training. If you're just giving licenses to someone that can back out of a parking space, then they may not be perceptive nor clever enough to understand why a zipper merge works, and combined with impatience can be a bad thing.

 

[bigblue_dl]

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

I think the problem lies in each state's lane closure procedures.

IDOT is different from the Illinois Tollway (although both do utilize the same specification book, ISTHA modified the specs for their use); and both are different from MDOT's lane closure standards.

Minnesota is doing yeomans work in informing drivers on how to zipper merge. Wisco, it sounds like, is closing fast.

Illinois and Michigan could give two sh**s about the zipper merge.

But the zipper merge isn't only applied when a lane is closed due to construction. It is whenever a lane ends, and merges into the next one. There are roads that normally go from 3 lanes to 2 lanes, and if that is backed up, then you should zipper merge there too, as long as the lane that is ending isn't exiting the road. If it is exiting the road, then you can't zipper merge, you need to be in the correct lane before the exit.

 

[FreshFish]

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

If the closing lane is doing the zipper merge correctly, there's no one going past you, because both lanes are going slow and are completely full. The only way the open lane is stopped and no one is in the closing lane is because they aren't doing the zipper merge correctly either.

The empty road space is there, and it's supposed to be used. That's the whole point of the zipper merge. Otherwise there's unused space in the closing lane because everyone tries to jam into the open lane too early. A zipper only works correctly if it goes left-right-left-right-left-right.

And if there IS someone going past you in the closing lane and you're backed up in the open lane - they're the ones doing it right, and shouldn't be punished.

totally agree with this in general.

where I see almost all the problems is when traffic is at a near standstill, and the zipper lane has already narrowed considerably, and people are already doing the right-left-right taking turns. You always get a few obnoxious folks who drive on the shoulder as far as they can possibly get, even moving around those who are already in the midst of merging as it is supposed to be done.

 

[Slap Shot]

So what your telling me if the open lane is backed up a half mile and is just creeping along at about 5 miles an hour and some guy drives past you that half mile and ends up parking it at the end of the closing lane waiting for someone to stop that whole line of traffic to let him in? how am I the jerk if I don't let him in?

Because the concept is designed to be overall beneficial to everyone if both lanes are used until the very end. Don't whine just because you didn't use the other lane.

 

[joecct]

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

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.

Remember, we're dealing with NJ. Having grown up there and got my first license there, I believe what I cited is correct. In NJ, the entering traffic on the circle has the right of way. I also remember encountering rotaries in MA and remarking that the RoW was different than NJ.

BTW -- zipper lanes = alternate feed?????

 

[hockeyplayer1015]

Remember, we're dealing with NJ. Having grown up there and got my first license there, I believe what I cited is correct. In NJ, the entering traffic on the circle has the right of way. I also remember encountering rotaries in MA and remarking that the RoW was different than NJ.

BTW -- zipper lanes = alternate feed?????

Don't even get me started on the sillyness that is NJ jug handles.

I guess I didn't realize you were strictly talking NJ rotaries. Wouldn't surprise me, it always seemed to be a different world once you'd cross the GWB

 

[alfablue]

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

Because the concept is designed to be overall beneficial to everyone if both lanes are used until the very end. Don't whine just because you didn't use the other lane.

The problem is human nature.

Logic and reason says that merging at the last moment is the fastest.

Human nature says- I'll get in line and be a good person. And people that are passing me (especially if it's one or two drivers) are bad and impatient people who are unfairly gaining an advantage.

Thus the more correct answer fails due to humans being humans.

 

[jen]

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

Time Warner grinds my gears (as it does nearly everyone's). They "upgraded" my Internet, since it was "cheaper", and now the service sucks. I've contacted them 6 times, and had 2 visits, and it's still not fixed. I get to call and yell at them tomorrow, and try to go back to my previous "downgraded" service - hopefully for the same price I'm paying right now. Yeah, right. Hey, instead of selling a poor service for less money... maybe you could charge MORE if it actually WORKED. That might be a good business model. Selling things that work. I know, it's a crazy idea.

You know what DOESN'T grind my gears? My mortgage company. I had asked for my PMI to be removed (since it apparently met the criteria), and lo and behold - it was, and within the timeframe they stated. I sent one message to them, and that was all that was required. This would have been a several-month process with my old company, requiring at least 5 phone calls, and inevitably, some crying - both them and me.

 

[FreshFish]

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

Time Warner grinds my gears (as it does nearly everyone's). They "upgraded" my Internet, since it was "cheaper", and now the service sucks.

Same thing happened to a family member "serviced" by a different ISP, the "upgrade" made the existing modem unworkable and a new one was required to handle the increased bandwidth....which might have been okay had they said something first. It was just, "go to bed it works fine, wake up and it doesn't."


and then they expect you to wait around until a technician can stop by with a new one ("hey, we gave you a four-hour window"), or they force you to travel to an inaccessible location in some industrial park where you have to wait in line with no "take a number and we'll call you when it's your turn" and no chairs. I once brought a book and a folding chair with me to make a point and while the others waiting found it amusing, the staff there was fuming.



Cable companies REALLY need competition. UVerse was a good alternative, and when they appeared, suddenly Comcast became incredibly responsive (gee, go figure). I am pizzed at the courts who forced AT&T to divest it; Frontier is worthless.

 

[LynahFan]

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

Same thing happened to a family member "serviced" by a different ISP, the "upgrade" made the existing modem unworkable and a new one was required to handle the increased bandwidth....which might have been okay had they said something first. It was just, "go to bed it works fine, wake up and it doesn't."


and then they expect you to wait around until a technician can stop by with a new one ("hey, we gave you a four-hour window"), or they force you to travel to an inaccessible location in some industrial park where you have to wait in line with no "take a number and we'll call you" and no chairs. I once brought a book and a folding chair with me to make a point and while the others waiting found it amusing, the staff there was fuming.

Based on my experience, you're lucky they noticed you were there at all....

 

[jen]

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

Same thing happened to a family member "serviced" by a different ISP, the "upgrade" made the existing modem unworkable and a new one was required to handle the increased bandwidth....which might have been okay had they said something first. It was just, "go to bed it works fine, wake up and it doesn't."

...

Cable companies REALLY need competition. UVerse was a good alternative, and when they appeared, suddenly Comcast became incredibly responsive (gee, go figure). I am pizzed at the courts who forced AT&T to divest it; Frontier is worthless.

They did upgrade the modem, and that's part of the problem. I'm thinking of not leasing a modem with them, but haven't looked into the prices or reviews yet.

U-Verse TV isn't available in my area (I find this hard to believe, as I'm in the freaking city), and the AT&T Internet service I can get is very slow compared to TWC (I had it before). There is no other choice here.

 

[aparch]

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

...or they force you to travel to an inaccessible location in some industrial park where you have to wait in line with no "take a number and we'll call you when it's your turn" and no chairs. I once brought a book and a folding chair with me to make a point and while the others waiting found it amusing, the staff there was fuming...

Sounds Comcastic!

U-Verse TV isn't available in my area (I find this hard to believe, as I'm in the freaking city), and the AT&T Internet service I can get is very slow compared to TWC (I had it before). There is no other choice here.

Same here. Somehow around here in Chicagoland, Comcast and others got Verizon to stop installing FIOS. And then Comcast argued that there "was competition" on the TV side thanks to service by DirecTV, Dish, and AT&T. And then they cry competition on the internet thanks to Verizon Wireless, AT&T U-Verse, and other wireless telephone companies. But yet, Comcast service can continue to suck for no reason (thanks, three month long "You're location is experiencing a problem, we expect it to get fixed within an hour," notice for no reason).

Comcast really grinds my gears.

 

[The Rube]

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

When Comcast upgraded my internet I found that my modem from them was outdated. They neglected to tell me that and I had no internet. I was fuming, told them internet was essential to my living (and let them assume I worked from home). They next-day-aired me a new modem free of charge. Had to raise a lot of hell to do it, but it worked.

 

[Spartanforlife4]

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

When Comcast upgraded my internet I found that my modem from them was outdated. They neglected to tell me that and I had no internet. I was fuming, told them internet was essential to my living (and let them assume I worked from home). They next-day-aired me a new modem free of charge. Had to raise a lot of hell to do it, but it worked.

Just watch out for the ten dollar a month modem "rental" charge now.

 

[dxmnkd316]

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

<--- has still never had a problem with comcast a two-minute phone call hasn't fixed. Ok one exception. Once had a tech come out after talking to the phone rep for maybe five minutes. The phone rep was local too.

Tech made sure I wasn't charged for the visit. Even though I probably should have been.