Life, food, events, and community in Albuquerque, NM
Lineupper or Sidezoomer?
There was a little story in the "New York Times Magazine" on Sunday called "The Urge to Merge" by Cynthia Gorney. It brought up a serious question that I thought I would pose here: are you a lineupper or a sidezoomer?
Huh? Well, you know when you're on the freeway, approaching a construction zone and you see a sign that says "Right Lane Closed in 1 mile" or something similar? As you reach the lane closure, do you begin to line up as you get closer to where the cones gradually close the lane? Do you line up and patiently wait your turn? If so, you're a lineupper. OR, do you zoom around the side in the outside lane that's now open because all the other folks are lining up? Do you go all the way to where the cones close the lane and try to merge in to the line? If so, you're a sidezoomer.
Aaah. I have to say, I'm a lineupper. It seems faster and less annoying that way. And it irritates me when people zoom around and cut in line - like they're in a bigger hurry than me? Ha.
What I like is when a semi pulls over and blocks the lane that's soon to be closed, that way sidezoomers can't zip around and cut in line. But ideally, according to traffic engineers cited by Ms. Gorney, even that isn't an ideal way to solve the merging problem. We should begin slowing down as we approach the merge and then, while all staying in our lanes, gradually begin "conducting beautiful 'zipper merges'," calmly letting each other in. Hmmmm. Sounds good - I don't think it will ever happen, though. There will always be those one or two people who simply must get to their destination before the rest of us. Or maybe they're not in a hurry, they just like the challenge of cutting in line.
So which one are you?
Huh? Well, you know when you're on the freeway, approaching a construction zone and you see a sign that says "Right Lane Closed in 1 mile" or something similar? As you reach the lane closure, do you begin to line up as you get closer to where the cones gradually close the lane? Do you line up and patiently wait your turn? If so, you're a lineupper. OR, do you zoom around the side in the outside lane that's now open because all the other folks are lining up? Do you go all the way to where the cones close the lane and try to merge in to the line? If so, you're a sidezoomer.
Aaah. I have to say, I'm a lineupper. It seems faster and less annoying that way. And it irritates me when people zoom around and cut in line - like they're in a bigger hurry than me? Ha.
What I like is when a semi pulls over and blocks the lane that's soon to be closed, that way sidezoomers can't zip around and cut in line. But ideally, according to traffic engineers cited by Ms. Gorney, even that isn't an ideal way to solve the merging problem. We should begin slowing down as we approach the merge and then, while all staying in our lanes, gradually begin "conducting beautiful 'zipper merges'," calmly letting each other in. Hmmmm. Sounds good - I don't think it will ever happen, though. There will always be those one or two people who simply must get to their destination before the rest of us. Or maybe they're not in a hurry, they just like the challenge of cutting in line.
So which one are you?
22 Comments
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Comment by Grumpy on August 6, 2008 at 4:27pm - At 5:00 going North on I-25 there is a right lane that merges before the Montgomery exit. I chuckle inside at the speeders zooming on the right past the other 4 lanes of traffic just before thet get stuck trying to merge while the other 4 lanes zip past them. I'm a lineupper (and to the left) myself. For some reason I loathe letting them in. I think to myself "well, you should have gotten in line like the rest of us, smarta**."
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Comment by Brendan on August 6, 2008 at 4:38pm - I merge as soon as there is evidence the sign isn't lying (All too often the lane closure sign is lying). At the final merge point I'll let one car in between me and the guy in front of me, unless there's a sidezoomer- won't reward that sort of driving.
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Comment by chantal on August 6, 2008 at 4:52pm - Yeah, coming from a long line of systems-minded engineers, I'm an early merger too.
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Comment by Eckleburg and Grumblecake on August 6, 2008 at 5:45pm - I'm definitely a lineupper.... and when I'm in a large vehicle, I'm also a shameless lane blocker (a la the semis). Is it vigilantism? Napoleon complex? I don't know... but I get a thrill out of slowing those oh-so-hurried folks down a bit.
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Comment by Joe on August 6, 2008 at 6:58pm - lineupper and i don't let the zoomers in.
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Comment by Chroma Studios on August 6, 2008 at 7:04pm - Great post! I'm totally a lineupper and I try my best to keep the sidezoomers from cutting in!
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Comment by Benny the Icepick on August 6, 2008 at 8:39pm -
You think Ms. Gorney could've coined a term that didn't look so dreadfully similar to "sodomizer." I nearly choked on my nectarine when I first read the title.
Also, full-on patient lineupper who lets the sidezoomers in... unless I'm not given fair warning of the upcoming obstacle.
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Comment by Two Armed Man on August 6, 2008 at 10:48pm - I always refer to ABQ drivers as "the unmergable masses". Now I see why. With all these spiteful lineuppers, it just gums up the works.
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Comment by Barelas Babe on August 7, 2008 at 1:20am -
Early merger here - I'm too oriented to the written word to ignore it.
What do we call the people who refuse to let others merge ON to the freeway in rush hour traffic? Are they just laneblockers? Or something else?
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Comment by Rodney on August 7, 2008 at 7:30am - So, a single line of cars backing up for a quarter mile, or a half mile, or a mile or more while one lane is empty is somehow preferable? Invision for a moment, 2 lines of cars, half as long with everyone patiently merging when actually necessary, alternating one side then the other like civilized humans. Heaven forbid.
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