Do you guys ever block traffic from a lane that is about to end?

No. I never block traffic from a lane that is about to end.

 

Just because you felt that merging early was a better option for you, what's wrong with staying in that lane until the merge? Then it wouldn't be practically no traffic in that lane, incentivizing drivers to take advantage of the ability to pass a shirt load of cars!

 

Since I am the only real VIP on the road if you merge behind me, nothing is wrong with zipper merge. LOL

 

Exactly. They're worse than the four wheelers. Ironically, once the road opens up they're the ones causing further traffic disruptions.

 

This whole thread is a typical zipper merge.

 

It is the best way but only if every vehicle sticks to it. One doesn't and it's all thrown out. Actually in Germany it's the law, instant ticket for not abiding by it ( although you get a ticket there for washing your car on a Sunday or putting your garbage in the wrong bin out of the five provided so they are pretty law abiding people there)

 

I don't ever block the traffic at all. I also don't think you're a pushover for not blocking the lane. Honestly man, I've just accepted that 95 percent of the motorists are going to be stupid. I leave space in front of me because I anticipate the idiocy. Besides, the jams happen because there is not following distance. The cars and even some trucks can get in front for all I care, I'll be rolling at a slower, more appropriate speed; but if they run out of real estate, and the lane closes, that's on them.

 

Wow. Someone that understands.
It seems such a rare thing these days.

Give enough following distance while adhering to the work zone speed limit and everyone can merge in correctly with little loss in speed.

 

Exactly. I feel like if you really want to see how truly stupid people are, watch a traffic jam. The bumper to bumper nonsense, is what causes slow downs. I liken it to those old National Geographic videos, watching herds of zebra and wildebeest cross the Mara River, a croc infested river mind you, and then they all try to get out at the same time when they get to the other side, because of the jam up, you'll see several get ate by the crocodiles. Every time I come to one of these work zones, and there's a jam up, my mind goes to that.

 

The problem with the zipper merge is that when traffic is already backed up to a standstill, anybody running up the closed lane to merge is only increasing traffic times for everybody else but them. They cut into traffic that's not open enough for them to get in so they make somebody else hit the brakes which causes a lot of backup further back.