By Armchair Mayor

City needs to ramp up its zipper merge campaign

Aug 8, 2018 | 7:22 AM

KAMLOOPS — TUESDAY’S ANNOUNCEMENT that red-light cameras at intersections — including one in Kamloops — will now operate 24 hours a day is a good step toward bringing some sanity and civility back to city streets.

But there’s a lot more to do. Remember the zipper merge?

It came to public attention three years ago when the Overlanders Bridge was being repaired. A lot of people, of which I was one, were convinced it would destroy our very way of life.

But then I tried it and discovered it works. And the feeling of guilt gradually goes away.

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Ever since the Overlanders Bridge experience, the City of Kamloops has been trying to promote the zipper merge for smaller projects and general traffic backups. Despite this effort, we’ve reverted to our old Canadian habits—it’s an amazing thing that the same people who blow through red lights suddenly become polite when traffic needs to merge.

I’ve been copied on an email to the City from a resident who went through the experience recently during some road repairs near the downtown core. The answer, says this resident, is prolific and simple signage — no text needed, just zipper graphics added to existing signposts.

Put magnetic signs on tailgates. Put reminder ads in social media and in YouTube videos. And remind merging drivers to wave “thank you” to the person who lets them in.

“We could end up with the nicest, most courteous drivers in B.C.” the email enthuses.

The City has already designed zipper-merge signs and there are lots of YouTube videos already, but there’s always room for new ideas. The writer argues LED signs aren’t necessary but I differ on that — something highly visible is needed so drivers get the picture.

When work begins on revamping West Victoria Street, there’s going to be a lot of disruption and some short tempers. One portable LED sign, preferably with green and red stop-and-go lights to indicate to drivers when to merge, would be a good investment.

We should all learn to stop worrying and love the zipper merge. And tomorrow, we’ll talk about another kind of merge — the roundabout kind.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.