The Minnesota Merge

Minnesotans are nice people in general - nice enough to warrant the cultural nickname "Minnesota Nice."

But sometimes Minnesota Nice is just Minnesota Stupid.

For a perfect example of this, try driving any Twin Cities freeway. Be sure you're in rush hour, a construction zone, a cloverleaf interchange, or any other situation involving merging. Among other things you will find:

1. People entering the freeway at 40 MPH, despite the 1/2 mile on ramp they had to get up to freeway speed.
2. 3 lanes reduced to 2 at the slightest sign of a lane closure ahead. "MERGE 2 MILES" is clearly intended to say "MERGE NOW," right? Um, no. Studies have consistently shown that traffic moves faster if you wait to merge until your lane runs out, but what do those collegiate study types really know?
3. A blinker kept blinking for a 1/2 mile as its car's driver crawls along, timidly waiting for space the size of an 18-wheeler before she finally agrees to merge. This gets even more fun once she's within 2 miles from her exit...

Minnesotans, you don't have to be aggressive and mean to learn how to take a lane! It's OK. Go ahead and take it. You won't lose your Minnesota Nice by scrapping your Minnesota Merge.