They should put up temporary bollards/cones along the lane line for a few hundred yards to force drivers over earlier. And drivers in the right lane shouldn’t let the last-minute mergers in.

So glad I don’t car commute anymore.

Anonymous wrote:I think the only thing to do is to encourage using both lanes and the zipper method.

I drove that stretch for years, but I exited at Catherdral, luckily. And I totally understand the rage at the line cutters. But it also doesn’t make sense to leave one lane of traffic completely empty. You will never get rid of the line cutters. There should be signage encouraging use of both lanes.

-1. That left lane is intended to divert traffic moving onto Calvert and Connecticut. There should be a police officer directing line cutters to keep moving. The line cutters clog up traffic in their own lane and in the right lane continuing up into RCP.

The difference between this situation and a pure merge where you should use the zipper is of course that the left lane is going somewhere else. Doesn’t make sense to me to use both lanes to continue on Rock Creek in that situation

I think the only thing to do is to encourage using both lanes and the zipper method.

I drove that stretch for years, but I exited at Catherdral, luckily. And I totally understand the rage at the line cutters. But it also doesn’t make sense to leave one lane of traffic completely empty. You will never get rid of the line cutters. There should be signage encouraging use of both lanes.

Anonymous wrote:Park Police really need to reinforce the last minute cutting in - that really slows down the traffic at the split. It also leads to fender-benders that cause major, major slowdowns.

Reinforce it how? Is it a traffic violation?

Once you hit Montgomery County, call their 311 or call the non emergency police line to report.

Park Police really need to reinforce the last minute cutting in - that really slows down the traffic at the split. It also leads to fender-benders that cause major, major slowdowns.

OP, I agree 100%!

They should ban cars in the park altogether. And bikes and scooters, too. Leave the roads for the use and enjoyment of people on foot.

I commute every day using Rock Creek park, and in the afternoons take the tunnel by the zoo. That area where people are merging right to go to continue on Beach drive vs heading left to go up Shoreham or Cathedral is just terrible Tues-Thurs. It gets backed up so far back and I dutifully get in line, only to inch long as two other lanes force their way in.

I get that zippering is amore efficient way to merge but this area is SUCH a cluster. The mergers are so rude, most don't even use turn signals, those of us who have been STUCK in line for 20 minutes don't want to let these line jumpers in...it's a mess. I hate it.

Pre covid I remember every once in a while there would be police (park police?) ticketing or doing something to make it move better, but I've seen no guidance for motorists at all. It's making me crazy.

And then beach moves slowly even after that split- I take the very first exist to Irving and I feel like those last 20 minutes of the commute are just the worst. UGH.