Topic: "The urge to merge"

[gottarondo]

This is not about cars, but about driving, so I hope it belongs here. 
If there is a global road problem, this just might be it - the art of the merge: 
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/03/magazine/03traffic-t.html?_r=1&ref=magazine&oref=slogin
An enjoyable read, even if it provides no right answers.

[tpl]

The "ersatz exit laners" are rife on the DVP. IMHO they should be shot and their bodies left to rot in their cars.  More reasonably how about a $1000 fine and 6 points.

I don't have a problem with the left laners as long as they are driving cars... when Lincoln Navigators do it the hell with them.   This one was common at the south end of the southbound HOV lane on the 404. All these people trying to squeeze themselves and their ugly passengers in at the end of the HOV. WORSE some of them did not have passengers.

[safristi]

  "HOVs"......Hors's on Vacation...........they can always squeeze anuffer one in.,....

[Serniter]

Good article. Thanks for posting. I know now to stay cool and let the impatients in. 

[Schmengie]

An age-old problem. The following is from a story in the September 1970 edition of Reader's Digest called Sex, Honor and the Italian Driver by Jackson Burgess:

'In Italian cities, four-lane streets usually become, after four or five blocks, two-lane and then one-lane
streets. Since most cities are force-fed with automobiles by an excellent turnpike system, this produces the Funnel Effect. The Funnel Effect can be unnerving. The unwary motorist may get trapped against one side or the other ( cars A and B) and have to stay there until traffic slacks off around one or two o'clock in the morning. But the Reverse Funnel Effect is even more dangerous. Imagine the effect of bottling a number of prideful and excitable Italian drivers in a narrow street for a half-mile or more and then suddenly releasing them. It's like dumping out a sack of white rats.'


Of course, no offense was meant to readers of the Italian persuasion. 'Politically correct' was, after all, an unknown concept in 1970. 

[chrischasescars]

Great article; entertaining read! Thanks for sharing. 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Do they ever do enforcement for this kind of thing? No enforcement, no compliance, it's just that simple.

[safristi]

... So Italian STALLIONS in Ferraris NOT Vespas are the problemo.......... ..i like funnel cake.....in a round_a_boot way............. Veni Vito (is that U?) Non Volto it's tha Appian Way..................

[gottarondo]

More on merging (first chapter of a book), and a book review, too long to post but worth checking out:
(book is "Traffic" by Tom Vanderbilt)

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/books/chapters/traffic-chap.html?ref=review
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/books/review/Roach-t.html?_r=1&ref=review&oref=slogin

Edit:  sorry, just thought to check, and see that the review has already been posted elsewhere by Brigitte - but I'll leave this here as it continues the merge theme...

[safristi]

..... "Ersatz!!!"..................wot comes after that...........Awful....delightful....Oooh do it again.....