Perhaps the BEST B1G Forum anywhere, here at College Football Fan Site, CFB51!!!

I remember a large argument on the MSU board a while back where the thread got into a debate about traffic merging.

AKA, which is better, the "zipper" method where the two lanes merge at the point where the lane ends, or do you attempt to get over as early as possible so as to avoid a crunch at the end where someone is forced to cut someone off and cause all traffic to suddenly come to a near stop (but at the same time, not using the ending lane to its full capacity)

There have been studies that say that the zipper method is the better way, but I highly doubt that because of the same argument as above.

The zipper method is akin to Communism.  In an ideal system, it would work really well.  Especially if people aren't greedy, selfish aholes.

Newsflash:  alot of people are greedy, selfish aholes.

IF people leave a gap in front of them (instead of riding the bumper), and 
IF people fill in the gaps near the end when available and don't wait until the very last second to pull over,
THEN the zipper method works well.

My route home from work that I drive every day has a merge point.  I generally try to get over earlier and leave a gap.  It chaps my ass to no end to see, EVERY. SINGLE. DAY., cars that are flying up the ending lane, within 30' to 40' before the lane ends, just blithely fly past the open spot and then force themselves over at the last second.

I don't think that I would ever truly succumb to road rage, but seeing people who have merged already, and then pull out to jump into the ending lane, just so that they can move forward about 10 car lengths, comes really close to my definition of justifiable homicide.

We're not perfect, we like our own stuff, we don't like working hard to give to others who are lazy.  I donate to help folks out down on their luck, as they say, and some of those folks no doubt are really lazy.

This is the key flaw in communism, in my view.  Capitalism has some flaws which folks try and mitigate with regulations etc.

I had some interesting conversations with my French friend about folks who worked for him back in the day.

so, Nick Saban is really rich...


https://twitter.com/JoePompliano/status/1722617709392011266?s=20

Also, the zipper merge works substantially better than going over as soon as possible, and it's not close.

I used to get rather incensed about the merging thing, now I just acquiesce, which drives my wife crazy.  I figure it takes me another minute, if that, no big deal.

if that kind of thing causes one to be incensed they couldnt drive in Houston

one thing you learn real quick here is that you never signal to change lanes cause if you do drivers will speed up to keep you from getting in front of them

I signal to change lanes and usually folks let me in around here.  Some drives are very aggressive of course, but most seem pretty rational.

I was up north a ways at 3:30 PM and realized I had forgotten how bad traffic gets out in the 'burbs around that time.

around here its not always happy city

there are all kinds of nuts around here and they all seem to come out to play when Im driving

I think folks here ara used to being stuck somewhere and needing someone to let them in, so they do it.  I see it pretty often when it's someone else, and folks stop short to let them merge or join traffic.  I see it when someone cuts someone off too of course, but it's more rare in my experience.

you lead a blessed life