I’m responding to Jacquie Glenn’s well-written letter (July 12 Gazette) admonishing the zipper merge and anyone who employs its virtues. I find it interesting that she feels that we all must line up behind the pile because two lanes become one.
I assure you that I can merge just fine without “cutting someone off” or “getting in an accident” as if it is inevitable. I go as far as possible and make it in every single time because there is always someone half asleep, on the phone, or there is a gravel truck that has a 29-car following distance that I can easily sneak into.
I see people lining up on St. Albert Trail in the left lane northbound even before Sturgeon Road to turn left at Giroux. Am I supposed to follow suit? The roads are there to be used as drivers see fit. Saying one driver is being selfish because she feels they are, is just an opinion and name calling is not necessary.
The particular road she refers to (Ray Gibbon northbound near 137 Avenue), is similar to many others. It is even like merge lanes onto the Henday where people are stopping to merge too early and creating more chaos than the guy merging closer to the end of the merge lane and not stopping at all. Believe me, I see it every evening joining the eastbound Henday traffic from Campbell Road.
All I can leave Jacquie with is don’t knock it unless you try it. The great thing about being in a car is no one knows who you are so it doesn’t matter if they think you are “donkey’s butt.”
Tony Gull, St. Albert
