The merging lane lemmings infect McKinleyville

You are correct. I think this is a dimwitted overreaction to those drivers who drive past the merge point onthe shoulder, as if there were still all the lanes present after the merge point.

Nicely written piece.

Well done!
I learned about merge/choke points as a child watching sand in an hourglass. Driving in Los Angeles, I learned that traffic merges by aternating lanes at the merge point (not rocket science). In fact, I observed a few occasions in LA when a CHP officer was directing the merge by alternating lanes at the merge/choke point.
It's always struck me as common sense but...
Maybe CalTrans should have a picture sign in "lane ends" construction areas directing the proper way to merge? For examples, see Google Images 'merge sign'.

This is a stupid article. They are not lemmings. where else are you going to drive when lanes merge. You are one of those jerks that wants to save two seconds. You probably cut in and out on freeways. You rush to pass a vehicle so you can be the first on the next turn off.
The newspaper must be hard up for news to publish an infantile article such as this. Slow down and smell the flowers.
YOu are the one I will see on the side of the road in an accident.

I totally agree, it always mystifies me when drivers won't merge up where the lane begins to gradually narrow with cones. Although it makes me feel a little guilty to pass the confused drivers that line up way to soon, it is the correct procedure for sure. While we are at it, how about the drivers that slow to a crawl every time they encounter any kind of incline. Just so you know, the combination of gravity and the weight of the car requires one to push down a little harder on the accelerator in order to maintain ones speed when climbing a hill. If one is driving a vehicle with a manual transmission one may need to also "down shift" to a lower gear. This may seem elementary to most drivers but it is amazing how many drivers don't get it.

Al Parodi wrote:

This is a stupid article. They are not lemmings. where else are you going to drive when lanes merge. You are one of those jerks that wants to save two seconds. You probably cut in and out on freeways. You rush to pass a vehicle so you can be the first on the next turn off.

I'm with Al. This guy is another one of those guys that thinks he should be able to jump to the front of the line in front of everybody else who makes the merge early so you don't have a big jam up at the final merge point. I say don't let these guys in when they wait until the last minute to merge.

So, you're the one! I'm one of the lemmings who gets offended by "line-cutters" who think that it's o.k. to jump ahead of all of those who merge correctly.What you are doing is rude and a little bit dangerous,and I have a great big truck,so try to get ahead of me and lose a fender-- I'll be waiting!(in McKinleyville and Willits)

This is a waste of your writing talent.
Why not find some meaning in your life and stop trying to beat everybody in line with your car as if it were a moment of self-realization and attainment? How silly.

I'm with the Lemming and Al Parodi;I totally disrespect you self rightous jerks that don't have the sense to merge when you can and want all of the rest of us to accomodate your selfish driving habits. Slow down and move over when you can, not at the last minute. Thanks to the writer for calling attention to his boorish behavior.Yeah I've run into your type of driver in Willets also,but it isn't that hard. After going through Willets once you should know that the road squeezes down, so prepare for it, merge safely and quit whining.

A free spirit eh? More like a rude driver.

I'll bet that in this "free spirit's" world it's okay to cut in line at the bank or the grocery store. After all...he's justified by being a "free spirit." (Apparently Free Spirit is just a password for someone who doesn't have to play by the same rules as everyone else.)

Get real. The writer sounds like many of the recently relocated from SoCal - where driving is a constant race and everyone wants in front.The writer brings that attitude with him and then calls the sane drivers Lemmings.

This guy's rude and proud of it!

Sir, what you are describing yourself to be is a rude driver. We all know the lanes merge. If you race to the front then cut us off, why do you not expect the finger of disdain to be raised to you? Are you really telling us we should drive like we are in Los Angeles? We left there or never lived in that place for good reasons. Rude drivers is one of those reasons.

You sir, are an ass. I will not let you in. Get in line and merge when everyone else does.

Dude, some cars don't have the power to get up the hills.

RADAR wrote:

I totally agree, it always mystifies me when drivers won't merge up where the lane begins to gradually narrow with cones. Although it makes me feel a little guilty to pass the confused drivers that line up way to soon, it is the correct procedure for sure. While we are at it, how about the drivers that slow to a crawl every time they encounter any kind of incline. Just so you know, the combination of gravity and the weight of the car requires one to push down a little harder on the accelerator in order to maintain ones speed when climbing a hill. If one is driving a vehicle with a manual transmission one may need to also "down shift" to a lower gear. This may seem elementary to most drivers but it is amazing how many drivers don't get it.

This article is nothing more than someone bitching about a personal pet peeve. That's why I RARELY read the papers on this area; no real news. Remember, there are workers in those coned off areas. Slow down, get in line, and cruise safely through the cone zone.

This article truly shows your arrogance if nothing else. The congestion at these merge points is usually caused by arrogant people, like yourself, who think you are more important than anyone else on the road. It still amazes me to see people fight for the front of the line, placing others at risk, only to drive down the road for 20 minutes to find they are stopped at the stop light, two cars ahead. Grow up and note the sign that says "do not pass" at those points, means "do not pass". Idiot.

It's great when you suddenly hit the brakes and the person behind you hits you, and you can sue them for a ton of money by faking injuries, in addition to getting a new car.

Free Spirit....Did you notice the signs leading up to the lane closure. I believe that thay state...lane closed ahead, merge right. It doesn't say....lane closed ahead, pass as many cars as you can prior to merging. What makes you so special/important that you cant politley and safely merge into the que like the rest of us. You're supposed to merge at a safe location...not at the last minute. How much time do you actaully save with your "more important than thow" attitude. Get in line with the rest of us, it's part of a civil society.

Mr Young, some of the basics covered in Kindergarten were: flush, play nice, and wait your turn in line. For people to queue to use a single lane and then have a "pushy pig" decide that he will be doing the world a service by cutting in front of those who have been patiently waiting their turn is more than an annoyance, it's rude and it IS wrong. Next time someone decides to share the "I'll sneak to the front" line in front of you and let you join the merge line in the order you arrived, don't whine. Just wave ... middle finger if need be ... and I'll wave back.
Jim Bilderback - Fortuna

Nothing a little road rage couldn't take care of. Where are the cops when you need them.

Mount a t.v. camera and record all the idiots and send them tickets.

The disease is that you people who believe you can avoid the delay are those who cause it. You merge into the left lane, shoot on up to the front then hold up right lane traffic so you can merge back in making everyone behind the driver having to stop in the right lane which causes everyone up the line to stop. That then manifests itself into more people moving over to the left and the process is repeated.

Your so called solution is what causes the problem in the first place, maybe you need to attend traffic school or pay attention to the DMV handbook that tells you to merge properly when coming up to a reduced lane situation. I guess that's what we can expect though from those who obtain their drivers license from K-Mart.

Mitch wrote:

The disease is that you people who believe you can avoid the delay are those who cause it. You merge into the left lane, shoot on up to the front then hold up right lane traffic so you can merge back in making everyone behind the driver having to stop in the right lane which causes everyone up the line to stop.

And it's not like they're not given the chance to merge earlier. When I'm headed south on 101 in the Santa Rosa area and approach the merge spots, I back off from the car ahead of me to give cars in the closing lane plenty of room to merge. I've rarely had anyone take advantage of the opening. They just speed past hoping to get as past as many cars as they can until they have to stop at the end of their lane because traffic is all tied up.