What do you think of people who block merge lanes

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: Linflas

Originally posted by: Tommouse
I've blocked from time to time. Trying to keep traffic moving. It is people that use these lanes to pass everyone that cause the slowdown. If they just merged over within a reasonable time this wouldn't be a problem, but of course people are a-holes so they wont. All a blocker does is force an earlier merger, and that helps everyone, because once merged traffic moves better, its all the cutting off that people do that cause the jams. So please don't call us selfish when we are trying to help the whole flow (including ourselves of course) and not just solely ourselves.

You are just as selfish as the person in the other lane. If you really wanted to help you would not allow anyone to merge except 1 car at the merge point. Then both lanes would be used to the maximum extent and everyone would win. Neither lane would move faster than the other.

Ding Ding. Use both lanes, reduce the queue length, file in one by one. Queueing up in one never ending line defeats the object of having two lanes.

 

[theGlove]

whoever said it was counter jerk tactics is right on.

do you guys like letting people cutting in line? thats basically what they are doing

 

[EyeMWing]

There's one place I do it, and that's because I've had a few near-misses.

 

[jpthomas]

You bet your ass I block the merge lane if I see people roaring down the shoulder trying to get ahead as far as possible. What really pisses me off is if I see people behind me in my lane pull out of my lane farther to the right so they can drive ahead and merge back in to sneak ahead a few cars.

If I'm stopped in traffic don't think you can get ahead of me...not gonna happen. It's just a common courtesy. I don't pass people on the right in the merge lane so I'm not gonna let you do it either. Wait your turn.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Hammerhead
Exactly! If the traffic enginneers thought that merge lane blocking is a good idea, then why don't merge lanes have a abrupt blunt end instead of a nice gradual merge that you see.

Measure the angle of those merge lanes sometime...it's not very "gradual" at all when you're travelling at any appreciable speed.

Blocking is dumb and counterproductive when there's half a mile of merge lane left, I agree, but near the front, it keeps people from being douches.

 

[aswedc]

Originally posted by: kami333
Actually lane blockers and early mergers ARE the ones you cause delays and slow downs.

Ever notice the "Use both lanes until merge point" signs? Oh, thats right, traffic engineers have no idea what they are doing...

It's already been said that it never works as intended, so lane blocking is the best alternative.

I don't usually lane block, but I never let people merge in who think they can cheat the line or don't use their turn signal.