I drive for a living and if there's a blockage I always drive in the lane that's going to end until very close to the closure point. Going over early is nothing but a time waster. Plus you easily cancel out any rage directed at you with a friendly 'wave of thanks'.

But, waiting for the exact last minute is an amateur move because you run the risk that people will block you because they perceive you to be a douche. Instead, move over about 50-100 meters and someone will always let you in. This also gives you time to plan your attack point, either by moving up forward to someone not paying attention and leaving a gap, or possibly by waiting to be let in by someone who was themselves just let in.

If you get blocked (usually by a pickup truck), then just look for a car that's not keeping up and edge into their lane. They'll always brake, even if they want to be a deliberate blocker, few have the insides to follow through. My ultra favorite move is to do this to a blocker and then give a 'wave of thanks' while they're crushing their steering wheel in their hands with rage. Yeah yeah, tell it to your therapist, bro. I got places to be.

Another good tip is to watch for a semi. They don't accelerate as fast as the cars in the stop and go traffic, so there's often a good two car lengths in front of them that you can easily dart into. No need to wave to them since they can't see into your car from their position anyways. This is an ultra good move because your merge didn't even effect the cars behind the truck since they had to go slower anyways. It's the ultimate victimless crime.

There's obviously nothing wrong with zipper merging and people are free to follow both lanes until they close one off.

However, it's definitely weird how people like dinopoker above clearly get off on their own aggressiveness in this weird "game." He's acting like people who get pissed are rubes (which they are), but it's more douchey to revel in their misery.

It's just driving. The only victory is not dying.

Interesting that if you drive for a living you wouldn't be in the lane that isn't closing much earlier. In this instance and not sure if what you drive for a living isn't a truck but if it isn't you should be sitting in that lane that is not closing like a truck driver and letting all the other people go past you in that other lane beeping your horn, flashing your headlights and shaking your fist out the window at them as they go past.

Definitely an Uber driver

Here's a 'wave of thanks'

See, you feel better already

But he said he makes a living driving.

Savage