Here is the official MN DOT article about the zipper merge:

New Traffic System May Improve Driver Behavior in Merge Situations

Here's the most important piece of the "zipper" merge issue that nobody ever understands - the key is finding compatible speeds in both lanes so that a merge is possible without either party coming to a complete stop.

It is NOT responsible for a person to go speeding past a line of cars and then come to a complete stop at the merge point and expect someone else to come to a complete stop in order to let them in.  The justification of this action drives me crazy -- it is not only selfish, but it works against the flow of traffic.

The point is this: folks should be able to use the "merge lane" to continue to move forward at the speed of traffic in the primary lane and then very naturally merge without forcing the primary lane to "break stride" -- perhaps just slightly slowing down to provide enough room for the other to enter.

By adhering to "same speed merging" you won't be pissing off your fellow motorists by speeding past them and you'll be appropriately using the merging lane.  That's the only way the zipper works.

Soooo ... Jadiaz, you are proposing getting rid of the left lane on all highways altogether?  Otherwise, there needs to be a merge at some point during construction.  The zipper method, when properly applied, is the best way to keep traffic moving.  It goes against every Minnesota 'nice' instinct, however, so people are going to fight the idea of it forever.  I confess that I was one of those who would get into the proper lane two miles in advance and get frustrated when people zipped by me in the closing lane.  When you think logically about it, however, why wouldn't you use both lanes as long as possible?

I too agree that in theory the Zipper Merge should work, but it doesn't.  I feel no need to let someone in that saw a line of 20 cars and decided that they deserved to get in at the front of a line that has slowed to a crawl.

Perhaps the Merger point needs to be expandable. When traffic has slowed to a crawl the merger point is moved back and the flow will not be impeded by those going to the needed merger point. Thus allowing the flow to correct itself and then the point can be moved up again.

I hate to have to repeat myself, BUT, Defensive Drivers are to blame for virtually all traffic slow-downs. They drive like their lives depended upon it, instead of getting their heads into the game and playing with the rest of us. Why must we have to "dumb-it-down" to the lowest common operator. It's their duty to ramp up their skills, or get off the field.

Thanks Don Ness for your comments. 

Well, Tom Ward, obviously you have never taken a defensive driving course taught by a MN State Trooper.  The main cause of accidents is speed. Driving is not "playing" as you refer to it and yes, my life does depend on it.  When I have to suddenly brake when I am in the right lane because some hoo ha pushes his/her car nearly in to my left bumper because they think they can jump the line then it causes me to write a note like this.  Defensive drivers are smart drivers, that is why there are classes on how to be one.  The skill comes in when we're able to avoid the hot shots out there who speed, causing accidents and thinking they own the road. 

Why doesn't this topic go away?  It seems a no-brain discussion between the road ragers and the safe drivers. 

Your life does depend upon your driving skills. My point was if people left enough room for others to zipper in without slowing down and coming to a complete stop, traffic would move faster.

I knew I voted for that guy for a reason, and it was his uncanny ability to describe how to drive properly.

Yeah when you say "zipped past" it sounds like you are going full speed and then suddenly trying to cut in front of someone.

As far as defensive drivers, your life does depend on it. Yes, it's also important to be decisive, and being overly defensive can be dangerous (coming to full stop on on-ramps scares me). I imagine going just barely faster than people, and putting on your blinker very early will get you more love.

Also you may be getting hate from people that have zippered just to get in the one lane already.

If we need to be trained on this 'new' way of driving, we may need more signage.

I'd argue that virtually all traffic slow-downs have aggressive drivers to blame. People slamming on brakes, cutting in front of people trying not to tailgate, swerving around people you feel are going too slow... Even if defensive drivers cause slow-downs, aggressive drivers make sure things stay that way.

I gave the finger to a guy in a giant 4-door pickup who cut across 3 lanes of traffic to 'zipper' me. I guess he took offense to it because he let me pass then pulled up beside me at a later light. I gave him a 'sorry' wave, but I wonder why he was more concerned about my gesture than endangering the kids in his car... and me. No more fingers from me though: overall it helped nothing.

When I was in grade school, my babysitter made me merge zippers with her.

I agree with B-man. When provided with clear instructional signs, the appropriate course of action is a pretty simple deduction.

#3 Always read the fine print, especially when waiting in line with apparently nothing better to do than wax nostalgic about life before the traffic blockade #4 if you don't, you will get nowhere fast. #5 Quit whining and do the best you can with the situation at hand.

@badcat... yeah, but there are a bare minimum of Twin Ports area drivers who know how to properly merge/accommodate a merger.

It seems simple. But I run into right-lane drivers who foil my best attempts to merge smoothly onto I-35 from 21st Av. W. all the time.

Sorry Mayor, I love you but, the B Man is right. there is an official highway sign telling you to use both lanes. The left lane is faster because the right lane is at a stand still. The reason it is at a stand still is because people aren't using the left lane! That said, as you come to the merge in the left lane it is your job to slow down so you can merge with the right hand traffic at an appropriate speed. I drove for UPS for 8 years and as a card carrying teamster I say use both lanes, merge and let people merge at a reasonable pace. It is the same little dance you do when you get on and off a busy clover leaf intersection on the freeway. Basically every car is responsible to let in one car. To clarify that does not mean scream to the head of the line in the left land and then hit the brakes and expect someone to let you in. One last note if everyone leaves exactly one car space in front of them I swear to you there would never be a problem and there would almost never be a stand still. We can all go the same speed one car length behind the car in front of us as surely as we can riding on the persons bumper. Signed a teamster who has seen it all when it comes to stupidity in traffic.

In addition, if fewer people drove cars regularly, the roads would be less congested and there would be much fewer bad drivers.

B-Man's right, how much more blatantly obviouse does this need to be?  There have been articles, it was on the news, AND there's a white sign right there on the side of the road.  The problem is still people get over into the R lane way too soon back in or before the tunnels (sometimes causing more of a jam with the traffic trying to enter from Lake ave or 5th st).  I do agree with the statements that cars are tailgaiting and not leaving enough room, AND speeding.  I never go over 45, even when the entire line in front of me speeds up, and when they slow down you bet your patootie I leave at least one car space in front of me.  I can't tell you how many times I've slowed and then glanced in the rear-view to catch the person behind me slam on their brakes to avoid hitting me.  If they were smart enough to leave some space, they wouldn't have that problem (and no I'm not "brake checking" to force them to slam on theirs, as I said I leave room so I can slow down gradually).  Personally, I think we should all have to take a refresher test every few years, or a refresher behind the wheel.  I would have no problem doing it, I'd like to know what I'm doing wrong.

The News Tribune had a full-page editorial on the subject on June 27, 2010. It's archived now, but here's the link:

Our view: Don't be quick to judge who "the jerk" is on highway

My conclusion after all the talk and press on this is everyone needs to leave more space between their vehicle and the one in front of them, drive at similar speeds and use both lanes.

I think it might really be that simple, but getting people to do that - not so much, for whatever reason.

Just trying to clarify here.

So if your are traveling down a conjested on-ramp at 1mph because all traffic in front of you is backed up, and you reach the bottom of this on-ramp only to find that the entire left lane is vacant, "proper" driving, would be to pull out into this empty lane, zip past everyone backed up in a line, then cut back in at the last possible moment?