Surprise! The Correct Way to Merge on the Mid-Hudson Bridge

If there's one thing all New Yorkers can agree on, it's that everyone else doesn't know how to drive. This also means that the "official" way to merge after a lane ends is causing quite the debate.

This recent public service announcement hit a little too close to home for many people, and it turns out that the "favor" many drivers do for their fellow commuters is just a giant mistake.

Merging on the Mid-Hudson Bridge

The Mid-Hudson Bridge famously fits only three lanes of traffic, and depending on the time of day, the Bridge Authority's specific schedule means that only certain lanes are open in certain directions (below). This also means that merging is a huge part of any trip across the span.

The Correct Way to Merge Might Be Counterintuitive

"Guys… Hear us out…Your 'polite' early merge is slowing you and everyone down", began a Facebook post from a local town government in the Midwest (below). "The 'late' zipper merge is faster [and] safer", they continued. This remains true for the constant lane merges on the Mid-Hudson Bridge as well.

The eastbound entrance to the Mid-Hudson Bridge could be a case study in this exact technique. Daily, cars can be observed merging early, and whether they think they are saving time or just "following the rules of the road", they could make the commute much smoother if they waited a little longer to make their move.

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For many, this may seem not only counterintuitive, but borderline rude. There are endless memes and jokes about the "jerk" vehicle that waits until the last second to merge. As it turns out, they were right all along.