WWYD with this traffic pattern?

[ckay87]

-2 lane bypass road (speed limit 65)

-Narrows to 1 lane and ends at a stop light.

Problem is the light often (very often) backs up and there is a long line of traffic that extends into the double lane highway part.

Everybody very courteously lines up in that right lane, backing up traffic for a mile (no kidding) and leaving the left lane completely open.

If you actually use the open left lane, it really REALLY peeves people off. They will likely not allow you to merge at the merge point. But usually people just park themselves in the middle of the 2 lanes to prevent anyone from using the left lane at all.

My opinion.....there are 2 lanes for a freaking reason. Use them . Merge at the merge point.

Usually I just sit in the right lane like a dopey good girl, but the other day it was so backed up, I said "this is bs" and used -gasp- the unused left lane. When the lane merged to one, n.o.b.o.d.y would let me merge. I'm surprised I'm not still sitting there; don't know how I managed.

Am I wrong, do we all just line up and forget about the 2 lanes we were provided with by the grace of the D.O.T?









PS - Anyone from my area would recognize the situation by the name Moselem Springs.

 

[hiwaygal]

Well, TECHNICALLY, you are correct, there are two lanes and they should both be used just as you describe (merging at the merge point).

But, I will often get in the courteous line too...it's just less confrontational and everyone eventually gets through on a "first come, first served" basis...like getting in line anywhere else.

I have to point out, though, that the lining up in the middle of 2 lanes is usually considered illegal.

Sounds to me like someone needs to tweak the traffic signal cycle a bit to make this intersection run more efficiently.

 

[Beth76]

Normally I would disagree with you and not let you merge either . If it was just a few cars. But if traffic is backing up for a mile then someone needs to use that other lane.

 

[ckay87]

Normally I would disagree with you and not let you merge either . If it was just a few cars. But if traffic is backing up for a mile then someone needs to use that other lane.

Normally I'd do the same, but it has come to the point of being just silly. I think we're a relatively small town/city with small town driving habits and courtesies. However, we're acquiring bigger city traffic problems. And anytime you drive in/around a bigger city, not using all lanes provided would be plain old stupid.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Sounds like a very bad set-up to me. ICK. Either way people will be sitting in traffic.

 

[shortbun]

1. go another way

2. get in line in the order you got there

3. expect to be treated like an interloper for going against the routine, people see it as cheating or thinking you are special.

4. The reason they are not forming two lines is because some people let the other line merge and some don't thereby creating an unfair situation. Get in line.

5. I live in a big city. I drive through an intersection just like yours everyday. We line up. The other lane is empty.

 

[taximomfor4]

Here we line up also. Otherwise, the several cars that "jump the line" in the other lane just drastically slow up the line. The people that did courteously line up, then, are stuck moving even slower as other cars jump in. Just like the Fastpass line does slow up the Standby line!

 

[mickman1962]

I wouldn't let you in. Happens here a lot, "Left Lane Closes in 500 Feet", so what happens? Joe and Jane Idiot say, "wow look at all these nice people letting us go by them while they sit still". There is a SEVERE lack of common sense in the USA.

 

[golfgal]

Actually the way everyone is doing it is the MOST efficient way to do that. If you used both lanes and waited every other car to merge, stop, merge stop it would take LONGER and be more backed up then if everyone does what they are doing and get into one line. I am usually one of the middle sitters that will block a lane in a situation like that where everyone else is waiting their turn and some person who is more important then everyone else rushes up to the front of the line. Just rude!

 

[mickeyfan2]

The DOT picked the merge point and the spare lane. Use it.

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

Holy crap! People actually line up in the right lane and leave the left one empty?! That is an unheard of situation around here!! Everyone tries to "cheat" and get ahead. Even if there are signs telling you the lane ends, people use it until the last possible second. People actually will turn from the right lane into the left lane and try to get ahead more. Sometimes they do this 3 or 4 times before the merge point. So to me, what you did was right.

 

[ckay87]

Actually the way everyone is doing it is the MOST efficient way to do that. If you used both lanes and waited every other car to merge, stop, merge stop it would take LONGER and be more backed up then if everyone does what they are doing and get into one line. I am usually one of the middle sitters that will block a lane in a situation like that where everyone else is waiting their turn and some person who is more important then everyone else rushes up to the front of the line. Just rude!

But IMO at some point it becomes dangerous, such as when it starts to back up on to a highway with a 65 mph speed limit.

Worry not all you line-waiters....I am not a rude one....I am one of you. I sit in "The Line" every day for the past 10 stinkin years. But I just sit there and think "oh this is silly."

 

[golfgal]

But IMO at some point it becomes dangerous, such as when it starts to back up on to a highway with a 65 mph speed limit.

Worry not all you line-waiters....I am not a rude one....I am one of you. I sit in "The Line" every day for the past 10 stinkin years. But I just sit there and think "oh this is silly."

If it is becoming dangerous the the DOT needs to reevaluate that intersection. It might be worth a call to find out what the plans are for this spot.