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Most of us are probably tired of the delay at the Keaau bipass merge (coming home) that we suffer through almost every day.I keep thinking of an idea. We all have to stop at the last traffic light before the merge and when we do we are in 3 lanes single file. If we could somehow control the lanes so one lane at a time goes, we stay in single file, and we avoid a merge. I don't have the expertise to know what that would do to traffic flow or how it could be done but maybe someone here does. Any Thoughts ?
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The problem is coming from those people who stay in the right lane until the very end and then have to either hit their brakes, or they cause the person in the left lane, behind them to hit their brakes. Traffic is like an accordion. With the exception of the tourists, 99% of the people already know that the lane is ending and they do nothing to move over ahead of time.
Your idea is intriguing though, if it could be somehow implemented.
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There is a very similar merge in Washington state on the highway to the ferry to Orcas Island where the solution is 2 lights on either side of the highway where it goes from 2 lanes to one. They have timed alternating green and red lights that let one car at a time through. Even though most of the people driving through there are tourists unfamiliar with the intersection it worked really well, much better than the "Kea'au Zipper" does.
Carol
Carol
Every time you feel yourself getting pulled into other people's nonsense, repeat these words: Not my circus, not my monkeys.
Polish Proverb
They could repaint the lines and squirt everyone in earlier.
aloha,
pog
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Access Lane Metering is a effective means of pulling multi lanes into lesser lanes. The downside is people will try lane jumping to position themselves into another lane. You also have increased rage when a person doesn’t alternate because they didn't go on green because they were too slow to progress inline. And you have the lead footers who will fly when its their turn only to catch up to the bumper of the vehicle in front or worst, try and speed by them. But its a viable option to be looked at.
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i totally understand and agree with mdd7000. then the drivers who stay in the right lane until last minute just assume that the rest us will show them some aloha, and let them over. i think its BS. makes me want give they another hand sign and it sure isn't a shaka. maybe they should make the right hand lane end at the light with a right turn only lane. but to quote some one else on here, its not idiot proof.
dee
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For the most part all times I have been in heavy traffic at the merge I thought that the merging itself was mostly polite and reasonable. We are still a long, long way from L.A. traffic habits.
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
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I think the really big offenders are the ones who race up using the shoulder and then expect 2 lanes of cars to let them in right at the merge when they try to cut in. Everyone else seems to just patiently wait it out, even on the days when it takes me 25 minutes to get from the intersection with Volcano highway to past the zipper.
Carol
Carol
Every time you feel yourself getting pulled into other people's nonsense, repeat these words: Not my circus, not my monkeys.
Polish Proverb
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Anytime two lanes become one things are going to slow down a bit. More and more people here are learning to deal with this by;
1.Relax
2.Merge and let merge at the end, like a zipper.
(This is how seasoned commuters do it in the big city)
When in the left lane, loosen up so the right can get in instead of bunching up and causing sudden stops.
It's perfectly legal to stay in the right lane until the merge. Any jockeying ahead of time is pointless and causes confusion.
If uncertain, see number 1 above.
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I agree with Greg. Everyone stays to the left like a flock of sheep following one another because it's easier which leaves the right lane open alot of the time because people don't like to merge.
