Traffic merging system

Abstract

A system for merging traffic including a through lane for conveying traffic in a traffic flow direction, a merge lane for introducing additional traffic into the through lane, the merge lane including a parallel portion that is generally parallel to the through lane, and the merge lane including a merge portion, at least a downstream portion of the merge portion converging into the through lane, and a lane change inhibitor disposed between the through lane and the parallel portion of the merge lane prohibiting traffic from crossing laterally between the through lane and the parallel portion of the merge lane.

1 . A system for merging traffic comprising:
 a) a through lane for conveying traffic in a traffic flow direction;   b) a merge lane for introducing additional traffic into the through lane, the merge lane including a parallel portion that is generally parallel to the through lane, and the merge lane including a merge portion, at least a downstream portion of the merge portion converging into the through lane; and   c) a lane change inhibitor disposed between the through lane and the parallel portion of the merge lane inhibiting traffic from crossing laterally between the through lane and the parallel portion of the merge lane.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of first spacing markers associated with the through lane and configured to urge traffic in the through lane to remain spaced apart in the traffic flow direction by at least a pre-determined spacing distance. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of second spacing markers associated with the merge lane and configured to urge traffic in the merge lane to remain spaced apart in the traffic flow direction by at least the pre-determined spacing distance, the second spacing markers positioned along at least the parallel portion of the merge lane in an alternating fashion relative to the position of the first spacing markers along the through lane. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the lane change inhibitor comprises a barrier between the through lane and the parallel portion of the merge lane. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a yield indicator associated with the through lane for urging traffic in the through lane to yield to at least one vehicle in the merge portion of the merge lane. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the yield indicator comprises markings on a surface of the through lane viewable by approaching drivers in the though lane. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a merge indicator configured to urge traffic from the merge lane to the through lane along the merge portion of the merge lane. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the merge indicator comprises at least one arrow pointing in a direction from the merge lane to the through lane. 
   
   
       9 . A system for merging traffic comprising:
 a) a through lane for conveying traffic in a traffic flow direction;   b) a merge lane for introducing additional traffic into the through lane, the merge lane including a parallel portion that is generally parallel to the through lane, and the merge lane including a merge portion, at least a downstream portion of the merge portion converging into the through lane; and   c) a yield indicator associated with the through lane urging traffic in the through lane to allow at least one vehicle to enter the through lane from the merge portion of the merge lane.   
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the yield indicator comprises markings on a surface of the through lane viewable by drivers in the though lane. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of first spacing markers associated with the through lane and configured to urge traffic in the through lane to remain spaced apart in the traffic flow direction by at least a pre-determined spacing distance 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of second spacing markers associated with the merge lane and configured to urge traffic in the merge lane to remain spaced apart in the traffic flow direction by at least the pre-determined spacing distance. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first spacing markers correspond in an alternating fashion to the second spacing markers along at least the parallel portion of the merge lane. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a merge indicator configured to urge traffic from the merge lane to the through lane along the merge portion of the merge lane. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the merge indicator comprises at least one arrow pointing in a direction from the merge lane to the through lane. 
   
   
       16 . A system for merging traffic comprising:
 a) a through lane for conveying vehicular traffic in a traffic flow direction;   b) a merge lane for introducing additional vehicular traffic into the through lane, the merge lane including a parallel portion that is generally parallel to the through lane, and the merge lane including a merge portion, at least a downstream portion of the merge portion converging into the through lane;   c) a merge indicator configured to urge traffic from the merge lane to the through lane along the merge portion of the merge lane;   d) a plurality of first spacing markers associated with the through lane and configured to urge adjacent vehicles in the through lane to remain spaced apart in the traffic flow direction by at least a pre-determined spacing distance; and   e) a plurality of second spacing markers associated with the merge lane and configured to urge adjacent vehicles in the merge lane to remain spaced apart in the traffic flow direction by at least the pre-determined spacing distance, and to remain spaced apart in the traffic flow direction from adjacent vehicles in the through lane.   
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a lane change inhibitor disposed between the through lane and the parallel portion of the merge lane and inhibiting traffic from crossing laterally between the through lane and the parallel portion of the merge lane; 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a yield indicator associated with the through lane for urging traffic in the through lane to yield to at least one vehicle in the merge portion of the merge lane. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the first spacing markers correspond in an alternating fashion to the second spacing markers along at least the parallel portion of the merge lane. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein each of the first spacing markers and the second spacing markers has a leading end, a trailing end, and a length extending between the leading and trailing ends, wherein the trailing ends of the first markers are generally aligned with the leading ends of the second markers along at least the parallel portion of the merge lane.