Confessions from the Shoulder Lane

The State Route 16 exit onto Purdy Drive regularly backs up during rush hours. To keep the backup from blocking the highway, drivers are supposed to use the shoulder lane on the exit ramp between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Signs are clearly posted for this rule. At the end of the shoulder driving, signs and a dashed merge line let drivers know it is time to zipper merge back into the regular single-file traffic lane.

Regular social media complaints include drivers flying by on the shoulder, main-lane drivers blocking the shoulder to prevent others from “skipping the line,” or not allowing shoulder drivers back into the main lane, defeating the advantage of zipper merging.

What I think is often lost in the discussion is the need to keep the shoulder lane full for the process to be fair and, frankly, for it to be safe for everyone. If the shoulder line is shorter than the main lane, even by one car, a driver should enter the shoulder lane. “Zipper split,” if you will. You and the car next to you would arrive together, be side-by-side through the backup, and then leave the exit ramp one right after the other. There would be no room to fly by and no room to skip the line.

Numerous studies support the zipper merge: using the entire merge lane keeps things moving. Merging too early slows traffic overall. Go to the end and then take turns to zipper back into a single line.

I’ll see you on the shoulder as I do my part to build a safe and fair queue. If you stay in the main lane, don’t blame me if I go around you. I’m making an informed decision and contributing to the better solution. I hope you will, too. I look forward to the day I stay in the main lane because both lanes are full.

We are not the bad guys.