Uisce Beatha
Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat From: In the Jar
Karma: 116 Posts: 7357
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Construction Merge
« on: May 14, 2009, 07:39:03 PM » |
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So you scoot on up an on-ramp to a freeway with a lane closure about 1/2 mile ahead [* spacey]. Traffic in the three lanes to the left is in first gear. You have enough room in front of you to land Air Force One. What do you do?
1. Slow to a crawl within 50 yards, throw on the turn signal and needlessly squeeze behind 100 cars for the greater good of mankind. A right Mother Teresa of the Autobhan.
2. Creep about halfway down at moderate speed looking for the first two car length cap and gently ease yourself over. Apologetic wave to the guy who let you in.
3. Balls to the wall to the top of the lane, wasting no more than 20 feet of asphalt, and Tokyo drift into your rightful spot as alpha dog of the rush hour pack.
I hope some of you vote #3 so I don't feel so alone. I can't fathom the logic that dictates one should not make the most of all available space before merging. It's asinine really. Not to mention the *bunghole*s who flip you off, crowd you out, etc. because their being on the freeway longer than you apparently grants them priority status.
Just messin' about doing so aggressively but quite serious about making the most of what UDOT gives me.
* Beck Street to I-15 NB.
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"If you're darker than a caramel, Reverend Al speaks for you." - Aasif Mandvi
"Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk, I'm a woman's man: no time to talk." - stroh
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birdymaker
Straitjacket From: a third world country in the making
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Re: Construction Merge
« Reply #1 on: May 14, 2009, 08:07:21 PM » |
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In the D you can get shot for that. really.
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women are like tornados. In the beginning there's a lot of sucking and blowing. In the end, the car's gone, the house is gone..
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Fuzzy
Full Metal Jacket From: Island of Misfit Toys
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Re: Construction Merge
« Reply #2 on: May 14, 2009, 08:16:23 PM » |
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MNDOT has been trying to get the word out for the past couple of years to use both lanes and "zipper" at the merge point. Basically everybody on the right let one in on the left. Or vice versa whatever the case may be.
Had a couple nasty construction sites last summer where the highway patrol had to play nanny due to some near riots.
Basically what MNDOT and the patrol say is what your #3 says. Sans the balls to the way, alpha dog Tokyo drifting.
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"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose."
From Oh the Places You'll Go, by Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel)
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spacey
Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat From: Group W Bench
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Re: Construction Merge
« Reply #3 on: May 14, 2009, 08:46:02 PM » |
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I'm all about option #3. However, I've long maintained that Utah ought to change their license plate slogan to "I'd rather die than merge behind you" so use caution and/or your best judgment.
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Aske
Lederhosen
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Re: Construction Merge
« Reply #4 on: May 14, 2009, 09:52:59 PM » |
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WWTMTCD
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Russia has invaded a sovereign neighboring state and threatens a democratic government elected by its people. Such an action is unacceptable in the 21st century. -- Chimpy McFlightsuit, CEO of Bu$hco Industries of 'Merka |
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Uisce Beatha
Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat From: In the Jar
Karma: 116 Posts: 7357
OfflineGet me the tank!
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Re: Construction Merge
« Reply #5 on: May 15, 2009, 05:34:44 AM » |
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In the D you can get shot for that. really.
LMAO, so that's what happened to Santa. I'm never going to Detroit. You have me proper scared of the place.  |
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"If you're darker than a caramel, Reverend Al speaks for you." - Aasif Mandvi
"Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk, I'm a woman's man: no time to talk." - stroh
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MFAWG
Rich Corinthian Leather Jacket
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Re: Construction Merge
« Reply #6 on: May 15, 2009, 07:06:31 AM » |
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Put me down as Numbah Two, with this caveat: 3. Balls to the wall to the top of the lane, wasting no more than 20 feet of asphalt, and Tokyo drift into your rightful spot as alpha dog of the rush hour pack. I don't know who this guy will merge behind, but I do know who he doesn't merge in front of, complete with appropriate hand signals and the devil may care attitude of a guy driving a piece of 22 year old Detroit iron. |
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The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life. -- Teddy Roosevelt
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Walfredo
Straitjacket
Karma: 18 Posts: 2013
OfflinePaintin the town brown
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Re: Construction Merge
« Reply #7 on: May 15, 2009, 07:35:07 AM » |
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Put me down as Numbah Two, with this caveat: 3. Balls to the wall to the top of the lane, wasting no more than 20 feet of asphalt, and Tokyo drift into your rightful spot as alpha dog of the rush hour pack. I don't know who this guy will merge behind, but I do know who he doesn't merge in front of, complete with appropriate hand signals and the devil may care attitude of a guy driving a piece of 22 year old Detroit iron. x2 |
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For hither not, I am the stallion.
Come fear, come love, I am the stallion.
You know that I am the stallion, mang.
I am, I am the stallion, mang.
You know that I am the stallion, mang.
I live, I walk, I am the stallion, mang.
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Spartan
Golf Shirt
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Re: Construction Merge
« Reply #8 on: May 15, 2009, 07:59:04 AM » |
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Put me down as Numbah Two, with this caveat: 3. Balls to the wall to the top of the lane, wasting no more than 20 feet of asphalt, and Tokyo drift into your rightful spot as alpha dog of the rush hour pack. I don't know who this guy will merge behind, but I do know who he doesn't merge in front of, complete with appropriate hand signals and the devil may care attitude of a guy driving a piece of 22 year old Detroit iron. Same here. |
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Gamma Pi
Mock-T
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Re: Construction Merge
« Reply #9 on: May 15, 2009, 09:49:26 AM » |
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Put me down as Numbah Two, with this caveat: 3. Balls to the wall to the top of the lane, wasting no more than 20 feet of asphalt, and Tokyo drift into your rightful spot as alpha dog of the rush hour pack. I don't know who this guy will merge behind, but I do know who he doesn't merge in front of, complete with appropriate hand signals and the devil may care attitude of a guy driving a piece of 22 year old Detroit iron. Same here. x3 with enthusiasm. |
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Dunk
Vest & Plus Fours
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Re: Construction Merge
« Reply #10 on: May 15, 2009, 04:47:52 PM » |
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Put me down as Numbah Two, with this caveat: 3. Balls to the wall to the top of the lane, wasting no more than 20 feet of asphalt, and Tokyo drift into your rightful spot as alpha dog of the rush hour pack. I don't know who this guy will merge behind, but I do know who he doesn't merge in front of, complete with appropriate hand signals and the devil may care attitude of a guy driving a piece of 22 year old Detroit iron. Same here. x3 with enthusiasm.  |
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Uisce Beatha
Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat From: In the Jar
Karma: 116 Posts: 7357
OfflineGet me the tank!
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Re: Construction Merge
« Reply #11 on: May 15, 2009, 05:53:36 PM » |
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I know y'all read my "just messin' about doing so aggressively" comment but in case the recent sentiment is meant to apply to someone using the full length of that lane responsibly and safely. See, that's what I'm talking about. Four guys in a row think a guy with a half mile of open lane in front of him should merge behind them cuz... why? Cuz that lane's meant to be empty? Is the feeling if they wanted cars in it they wouldn't have closed it a half mile down the road? What's the limit? 1/3 mile? 1/4 mile? 50 yards? Where's the line? If they didn't want cars in it wouldn't they have closed it right at the point they didn't want cars in it? Any chance that's exactly what they did? Pardon the strong opinion but I think that's *goshdarn* retarded. To use Fuzzy's word why not 'zipper' the two lanes up into one? If *everyone* was a number three then the guys already on the freeway wouldn't have to wait one extra minute. Think about it. When you're one mile back everyone merging from the on ramp is in front of you... right? So you're going to be behind them them anyway right up until you're beyond the magic spot where you believe the mergers are supposed to get over... right? What about next week when the fast lane on the other side of the freeway is closed? The guys in that lane may have been on the road since Los Angeles. So of course you slow down and let them in... right? Or does the lane you're in always get priority? Does missing out on the hole shot constitute a slight to your 22 year old Detroit iron manhood? I drive a Honda and so I guess I'm completely in touch with my sensitive side.   |
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"If you're darker than a caramel, Reverend Al speaks for you." - Aasif Mandvi
"Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk, I'm a woman's man: no time to talk." - stroh
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MFAWG
Rich Corinthian Leather Jacket
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Re: Construction Merge
« Reply #12 on: May 15, 2009, 09:09:40 PM » |
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Cuz that lane's meant to be empty? \ Yup. That's why there were all those *goshdarn* signs starting 5 miles ago, then every half mile until you got to that last 100 yards and figgered out that they actually meant the lane was closed for everyone INCLUDING YOU! So, everyone read the signs, moved over EXCEPT YOU, so now you just need to wait until somebody feels sorry enough for you to let you in. I wasn't kidding about the vintage ALL STEEL Detroit iron, either. It basically screams 'Hit Me With Your Colored Plastic Bumper That's Just A Little Bit More Than Your Insurance Deductible To Repaint, Moran!' |
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« Last Edit: May 15, 2009, 09:17:30 PM by MFAWG »
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The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life. -- Teddy Roosevelt
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Aske
Lederhosen
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Re: Construction Merge
« Reply #13 on: May 15, 2009, 10:18:05 PM » |
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man up , nantzies.
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Russia has invaded a sovereign neighboring state and threatens a democratic government elected by its people. Such an action is unacceptable in the 21st century. -- Chimpy McFlightsuit, CEO of Bu$hco Industries of 'Merka |
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Uisce Beatha
Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat From: In the Jar
Karma: 116 Posts: 7357
OfflineGet me the tank!
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Re: Construction Merge
« Reply #14 on: May 16, 2009, 05:09:05 AM » |
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I believe I understand this Donning of American Steel Pen0r Extending Phenomenon... BEFORE AFTER |
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"If you're darker than a caramel, Reverend Al speaks for you." - Aasif Mandvi
"Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk, I'm a woman's man: no time to talk." - stroh
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