Discussions

I'm quite happy if people don't want to do it properly, it means less waiting for me in the right lane.

The last three times I crossed the bridge I zippered in from the right lane without any trouble at all and likely passed 20+ cars doing it. I was let in with ease. I just signalled early and it was not a problem. Yet as I say this I (as the OP indicated) was the only one of those 20+ merging. The rest were lined up to Victoria ave like fools.

The last 2 or 3 times (yesterday being the most recent) I drove from Louise Ave in the outside lane all the way to the "merge here" sign & merged no problem. I must've passed about 30 cars! (I was thinking the same thing as Cameron..."darn fools!") A handful of cars ahead of me signalled out of the inside lane & did the same as me. I agree, if you take it slow & signal in lots of time, everyone was taking turns & merging like pros! In the back of my mind, I always wonder if someone is going to come unglued on me if I signal & merge in front of them, or if no one is going to let me in at all! But I'll continue to pass the 30+ vehicles & take my chances. If someone is going to be mad about it, they can signal to the outside lane & pass everyone else too!  
 
That all being said, let's not forget this weekend is Winter Fest & Dakota Nation Winterfest, so there are a lot of visitors to our city. If they haven't been here since the new sign(s) went up, they would have no clue to zipper merge. Maybe the last time they were here they were in the outside lane & no one would let them in at Rosser or Pacific Ave, so they're playing it safe by staying in the inside lane.  
 
Also, no offence to ppl from smaller towns (because I grew up in one & I saw my parents struggle when we would drive in Wpg), but I bet a lot of ppl from smaller towns who visit Brandon once, twice, maybe 3 times a year, have never even heard of a zipper merge. I had never heard of one until they put the signs up & made announcements on the radio!

Zipper merging isn't a new concept, it's just new to Brandonites who seem to have that "all about me" attitude behind the wheel. I've driven all over stateside as well as Canada and Brandon people are the worst for being inconsiderate

JR said "    The_Young_Man said "Honestly the big issue I have seen here, is drivers in the right lane have no idea what to do once they get past Rosser Avenue. Drivers in the left lane back off to let drivers in the right lane in but the drivers in the right lane turn their signal lights on but then are very hesitant to get into the lane, even though there is lots of room. " That's because people don't know how to shoulder check. Either that or they are too lazy to do so. If those in the right lane would signal and shoulder check, they would probably find that someone has left them plenty of room to merge in. I will back off to let someone in who has signalled, but I won't stop or wait too long because now I would be impeding traffic.     Signal, shoulder check, merge. Simple as that.     BTW - do NOT stop to let cars enter from Pacific. That's dangerous. They will have plenty of time to enter 18th during the light cycle at Rosser. "

There's also a thing on the side of all vehicles called a mirror. It works great.

I too have had no problem zipper merging, but why does it bother some people that the left hand lane is backed up 3 or 4 blocks???

lovetooshop said "I too have had no problem zipper merging, but why does it bother some people that the left hand lane is backed up 3 or 4 blocks??? "

For me there is no problem. If someone wants to wait in the left lane for 10 minutes to move 4 blocks that is their prerogative. I like the freedom and quick access to the bridge just the way it is. That is until road rage causes people to block those merging.  
 
Someone commented today that people should get their 's##t together and start merging early like everyone else. That person obviously does not have a clue about zipper merging. Plus I've had lots of people express anger when a car zips by them on the outside lane while they are moving slowly in the inside lane.  
 
I was hoping some more discussion on this matter might enlighten some drivers out there to zipper merge properly.

I don't live in Brandon, but when I am in Brandon heading north, I know damn well that for smooth sailing I should be in the left lane.  
I usually get in the left lane well before Victoria.  
As for vehicles turning off of princess urning right on 18th this is not a high number anytime I have been there.  
I just think that most drivers can't seem to preplan on what lane to be in.

For smooth sailing go to the right lane and merge after Rosser like the signs say.

lovetooshop said "I too have had no problem zipper merging, but why does it bother some people that the left hand lane is backed up 3 or 4 blocks??? "

backing up the left lane can be a problem for people wanting to turn left, i have seen 18th backed up as far as Richmond with people pre- planning like the above poster said which slows everyone down, from people turning left on vic to people crossing the bridge or going to school or wherever, when if you used both lanes traffic would travel quicker, really why build two lanes if you can only use one

A simple solution is to stay in left lane if going north. If in right lane either turn right on Rosser or continue to make a right turn on Pacific. Very simple. I think they should install a burm down the center so you either go straight north or make 1 of two right turns. Wait in line like everyone else. Just my thoughts.

I will let you merge if you signal and maintain your speed - I will not let you merge if you expect me to slam on the brakes - due to the fact that most people in this town don't know those 2 simple rules I hardly let anyone merge ......

The point is to zipper merge. If you don't know how to do that look it up or find an alternate route to your destination. Just suggesting.

It would really be interesting to talk to a person who designs roadways and studies traffic flow, there will be some sort of engineer out there that likely would point out many of the flaws of saying this is a proper merge situation.  
I think that people should be careful talking road rage, who would be the one to show road rage, would it be the person who are sitting in the left lane watching people try and merge, or the people in the right lane trying to merge, and not being able to do so.

You might say that Fair week is a sort of worst case scenario test of this. Not sure what other folks are observing but didn't look so good in a couple passes this afternoon.... 3/4 cars in the right lane, backup to almost Victoria in left lane

As drivers in Brandon still cannot get this right after how many months??  
 
As for the line up issue - I don't think that is such an issue as the jerks who constantly turn off of Princess and refuse to pull in to their correct lane (the one closest to them - the right lane) and merge over properly. I see it daily, where someone completely blocks off the right hand lane because they believe they should be allowed to pull directly into the left.  
 
I think Brandon is just too full of inconsiderate and self centred drivers to have zipper merges work properly.

I don't believe any right laner ever have a problem getting into the left lane. Even if one car doesn't let them in, one of the next 2 likely will. They don't have any reason to stress out unless its the first couple of times they tried this. They are gonna be long gone by the time the people that choose to sit behind 2 red lights, in a single file, instead of trying to double the number of cars getting through those red lights. At the most they probably shake their head and chuckle while bypassing the single liners.

Never stress trying to get in from right lane when I signal at Rosser. It would be amazing flow of traffic if the lanes were more evened out.  
Sooooo easy, but it seems this herd mentality continues...

Things feeling decidedly less experimental and more permanent with the new sign that's now up in place of the prev mobile sign (pic added). Not sure I'd necessarily say it's widely adopted yet but do personally still find myself using the right lane quite a bit based on how jammed the left lane looks like it might be from a few blocks back

going to add my opinion on this nonsense until somebody in a crewcab truck forced my dad into the opposite lane to "merge" his vehicle ahead of us. I couldn't believe what I was seeing, thinking he's going to stop right? No turn signal, just comes flying through the intersection and started forcing his way in. There was nothing polite or right about what he did and could have caused a terrible accident perhaps taking the lives of at least 3 people. that merge after Rosser is an accident waiting to happen.

Avoid 18th and rosser/princess. I will go to 26th street because i hate waiting in line and other drivers dont let you in.

Haven't had a problem merging there yet once the signs were put up. If people are not tailgating you have no problem merging.

but for the most part, anyone I've seen do the zipper merge has used their signal and politely merge. Though I agree most people are still doing the merge several blocks early which defeats the purpose of the zipper merge. I'm encouraging more people try it. It could be a nice smooth process if everyone gets their act together. But for those people who think it is an accident waiting to happen. Well that is no different than any other area of the city where people have to follow traffic rules like 4 way stop signs, traffic circles etc. There are always idiot drivers to ruin everyone's day.

Just a couple of updates/follow-ups to points in the initial city press release on this change...  
 
- It was said that push buttons would be setup for pedestrians at 18th and Rosser as well as 18th and Princess. That has been done.  
- It was said that underground detection loops would be setup to allow for more efficient light timing/traffic flow. It was in stead decided to use camera sensors on the lights for that purpose... something that's been in the process of being setup this spring

Last time I went through there, the pavement markings still had a solid white line to Pacific. You are actually not supposed to cross a solid line. If you merged immediately after Rosser you would be okay. Has the solid line been removed since the "Merge Here, Take Turns" signage has been put in place? If not, I would think that you still have to get it done before the beginning of the solid white line.  
 
I noticed about half of the left lane drivers allow people in, while the other half try to close the gap as soon as they see someone signal to change lanes.

Just to put a fly in the ointment, if you go past Rosser and nobody will let you merge before Pacific, simply turn on Pacific, u-turn after the centre median and rejoin 18th during the light cycle at Rosser. You'll still be 10 minutes ahead of those who joined the left lane back before Victoria... ;-)

Triplethreat said "Last time I went through there, the pavement markings still had a solid white line to Pacific. You are actually not supposed to cross a solid line. If you merged immediately after Rosser you would be okay. Has the solid line been removed since the "Merge Here, Take Turns" signage has been put in place? If not, I would think that you still have to get it done before the beginning of the solid white line.     I noticed about half of the left lane drivers allow people in, while the other half try to close the gap as soon as they see someone signal to change lanes. "

It should be dotted line from Rosser to about half way to Pacific. Basically the approach to Toyko Zone is where it changes. If it is safe there is no issues crossing the line. It is those that seem to need to floor it to race in front of the guy in the left lane and create a dangerous situation.

One year later and maybe I've been at the wrong times but as far as anything I've seen there's been next to nil change in terms of left/right lane usage. Still lineups multiple blocks back in the left lane, still 3-4 cars at most in the right lane. Maybe at least the left lane lineup flows slightly faster than before with the detection loop addition to the intersection?

I agree with you Adam. It is simply amazing how drivers in our fair city choose not to zipper merge. I am one who will travel up the curb lane and then look for a entrance in the last few blocks. It should not have to be a matter of trying to beat the guy off the line to get in. I see that all to often. One is stopped at a red light at Rosser Ave. You think you will get the jump off the line, and H E Double Hockey Sticks he/she beats you to it.  
 
Common courtesy people, ZIPPER MERGE. IT is NOT that difficult.  
 
On a side note, it is winter in Manitoba now if you do not know it. It is ever more important to USE YOUR TURN SIGNALS. Not everyone can stop on a dime. Slow down and be a bit more courteous to those trying to leave side streets or parking lots. Traction is at a premium in the winter.