OFFICIAL I70 BITCH THREAD....

[Lev]

Today is the last day of vacation for a lot of desk jockeys from all over the country. Not sure how anyone could think i70 wouldn't be an all out shit show. Today was warm and toasty on the FR. Great for hiking and not sitting in 5 hours of traffic

[stfu&gbtw]

We skied yesterday... left the house at 630, at AB at 7:10, ate breakfast, skied surprisingly soft cord with the wife/kid. Bailed at 11:30, in the hot tub by 12:30. What's the problem?

[The SnowShow]

Today is the last day of vacation for a lot of desk jockeys from all over the country. Not sure how anyone could think i70 wouldn't be an all out shit show. Today was warm and toasty on the FR. Great for hiking and not sitting in 5 hours of traffic

Agree. Gorgeous day for a bike in Denver.

[SkeezeBall]

Didn't hit any traffic on the way back from breck this afternoon around 230pm. Did everyone leave early to beat traffic? Wish this happened more often.

[Danno]

no traffic from what I saw online from about 4 pm on. Drove through after the game, around 6, no trouble.

[Kinnikinnick]

Today was downright retarded. 6 west from abasin was at standstill traffic for the first 2 miles up the pass. No plausible reason whatsoever. Cdot worker was stopping the line every 10 or so cars. Slow going until about Georgetown. Tomorrow is gonna be rough for sure.

I can tell you exactly what was happening and what causes 90% of the traffic troubles at the I70/US 6 merge - people can't figure out how to effectively merge and use the acceleration lane. Watch here for how to merge:

http://www.wikihow.com/Merge-Onto-th...thout-Crashing

I've seen it a hundred times - people get on the on ramp and insist on merging in immediately, often crossing the white line. You shouldn't merge immediately - use the zipper merge after using all the available acceleration lane to gain as much speed as possible. This makes traffic on the highway basically come to a standstill, which means that traffic behind and going forward is stopped or has to start from 0mph. People think that they're being curteous or waiting their turn, but in fact are fucking up traffic. The highway patrol should set up cameras and start ticketing for failure to merge legally.

[hatchgreenchile]

^^ or use those simple soft barriers, see Loveland Pass east & I70 interchange.

[Kinnikinnick]

^^ or use those simple soft barriers, see Loveland Pass east & I70 interchange.

I think that they got rid of them unfortunately.

[GPP33]

^^ or use those simple soft barriers, see Loveland Pass east & I70 interchange.

They scare people.

While I agree people don't know how to merge the problem there is you have a constant flow of traffic from a single lane road entering an already full two lane road. 1 + 2 = 3 only in this case it can't. So what do people do? They tap their brakes, then the people behind them tap theirs, next thing you know you're flying out of a dark tunnel and you see brake lights, there's a down hill grade, flashing roadside signs and curves ahead. Guess what you're gonna do. Hit your brakes pretty hard until you can assess wtf is going on. And that kids is how we make traffic.

Get rid of the merge or get rid of the tunnel and that problem will mostly go away. I hardly ever ski Loveland or a basin anymore so I say fuck em, close the entrance and make them merge on down in Dillon.

[summit]

You had up until your proposed solution: close US6 to make I70 faster

[Kinnikinnick]

Here's an illustrated example of the effect that I'm talking about. Merging too early vs. using the full acceleration lane to merge at highway speed.

[GPP33]

Here's an illustrated example of the effect that I'm talking about. Merging too early vs. using the full acceleration lane to merge at highway speed.

If you add about 5,000 more people to the highway in your picture you'll see it makes no difference where they merge, the simple act of merging sets off a chain reaction.

I saw one of your favorite people tonight driving 10 mph in the shoulder trying to merge into traffic going 55 because their 1/4 long merge lane wasn't enough to get up to speed. Morons, thankfully no one was slowing down to let them in.

[Foggy_Goggles]

While you can't get around the volume, traffic would certainly be improved if people didn't suck so much at driving. Driving around here in the holidays was just brutal. Defensive driving to the next level.

Honestly, I just don't think a majority of people even know what bad driving is. Beside, possibly getting an "unsafe mountain driving" ticket for putting it in the ditch, I can't think of one example of people even getting a warning for no signal, shitty tires, driving in the middle of a two lane, stopping in the middle of the road etc.

We have all these "rules" on the book that don't get enforced. Of course you guys are totally rad at driving at all times but some sort of "Don't Suck" campaign really would help.

[_curmudgeon_]

The no signal thing makes me mental. It's not even that hard sheeple!

[Kinnikinnick]

If you add about 5,000 more people to the highway in your picture you'll see it makes no difference where they merge, the simple act of merging sets off a chain reaction.

I saw one of your favorite people tonight driving 10 mph in the shoulder trying to merge into traffic going 55 because their 1/4 long merge lane wasn't enough to get up to speed. Morons, thankfully no one was slowing down to let them in.

Yes at some point volume is so high that speeds slow but regardless of the volume the way that people merge is going to either make things better/no worse or worse. If traffic is at stop and go but everyone merging insists on doing so immediately across the white line before any acceleration then traffic will continue to be at an average speed of 0-5 because people have to stop to let in early mergers. If instead those people use the 1/4 mile full acceleration lane then both them and the highway can at least get speed up to 10-20mph. Even if traffic is only at 5mph because of congestion ahead by using the acceleration lane then you are limiting the negative impact on the highway further back.

Are you helping or hurting the traffic/traffic speeds when you merge? That is the question you need to ask yourself. And there is NO scenario when you are helping by merging too early and before you can pick up whatever speed is possible.

[hatchgreenchile]

Of course you guys are totally rad at driving at all times

Well, duh
For every slow defensive driver taking their time, there's some meathead who feels every mountain road is their personal Watkins Glen.

[encore]

While you can't get around the volume, traffic would certainly be improved if people didn't suck so much at driving.

Quoted for Truth! Obviously I don't know the percentage, but I would say that a majority of people have no idea how to actually "drive." Yes, they know how to start their car, put it in gear, and maneuver said vehicle to their destination, but they aren't in tune with their vehicle's strengths, weaknesses, and it's capabilities. For example, how to drive a corner without braking, effectively downshift on a hill, how to anticipate and adjust to road conditions, how to adjust to skidding or hydroplaning, how to properly merge, etc.

[simple]

Most people don't know how to shoot accurately and they still own guns. Welcome to the planet that is filled with morons.

[The SnowShow]

I think CO should consider building a train from DIA to Vail

[bendtheski]

Most people don't know how to shoot accurately and they still own guns. Welcome to the planet that is filled with morons.

A lot of dipshits lately seem to want to try to do both simultaneously. Menacing calls to dispatch are definitely on the rise; something folks may want to consider before they're drawn into the next road rage pissing match.

[stfu&gbtw]

I think CO should consider building a train from DIA to Vail

TABOR!!!!!!1111ELEVEN

[fastfred]

Well, duh
For every slow defensive driver taking their time, there's some meathead who feels every mountain road is their personal Watkins Glen.

that'd be me averaged 80 mph up and down 70 yesterday, even like the new left lane in idaho springs, makes passing so easy keep right except to pass

and to the turkey from minesota last nite, my apolgies but it was way to funny, set you up hard, at least you figured out what was going on in time and didn't get busted, no one can hang with me on i70 my personal walkins glen

this poor guy thought he could hang with me as we did 80 plus down floyd hill, my radar detector went off near the top, so I knew the cop would be 3/4 of the way down, just as we turn one of the last corners I hit the breaks jump in the right lane and slow to 62, you sling shot past me so fast, thought you were gonna spin out after hitting your breaks so hard seeing that cop sitting there, I was back to 80 at kermits and didn't see you again buddy

[GPP33]

Yes at some point volume is so high that speeds slow but regardless of the volume the way that people merge is going to either make things better/no worse or worse. If traffic is at stop and go but everyone merging insists on doing so immediately across the white line before any acceleration then traffic will continue to be at an average speed of 0-5 because people have to stop to let in early mergers. If instead those people use the 1/4 mile full acceleration lane then both them and the highway can at least get speed up to 10-20mph. Even if traffic is only at 5mph because of congestion ahead by using the acceleration lane then you are limiting the negative impact on the highway further back.

Are you helping or hurting the traffic/traffic speeds when you merge? That is the question you need to ask yourself. And there is NO scenario when you are helping by merging too early and before you can pick up whatever speed is possible.

I totally agree. Coloradans can't seem to figure it out from either side though. When they ride in the bind spot in the guy who's trying to merge then get all surprised when his lane ends and either slam on their brakes or make the merge slam on theirs it has the same effect. You'd think it's rocket surgery or something.

[DasBlunt]

Coloradans merging problems need another CDOT app.

what a cluster fuck of merging retards.

[montanaskier]

You take a drivers test at 16, and often never again. That's pretty crazy. You should have to take a written and driving test everytime you renew your license.