I usually have less severe jetlag on the 737 MAX 9s compared to the Airbus fleet. I think it's the level at which they pressurize the cabins. In any case, like others have said, it really depends on the airline and seating configuration therein.
Also regarding the climate change, as I understand it, the MAX 9 changes were designed to _increase_ fuel efficiency.
I try to follow the zipper rule when getting on the freeway. The problem I run into quite often in CA (and the thing that frustrates me the most in urban driving) is when people behind me on a highway on-ramp cut across the solid white line to "get ahead". That then forces me to have to slow down while they pass so I don't ram them from the side. If you factor in other through-way cars already in the lane, this can really congest merging and you get major backups in the rightmost lane.
A similar event comes to mind when you come across someone sitting in the left lane going under the speed limit but completely unaware or bother for the people passing them.
So I guess my point is, while these are great in theory, they don't really work in practice without buy in from the herd (I use herd as this problem can be framed in a similar light as vaccinations and herd immunity).
Yes, this is one of those concepts which works much better for everyone, if everyone else drives like a German driver.
In the US, when you get to the end of the merge region, most people in the continuation lane will blast by at full speed, leaving no room to get over. I have to sit at the end of my lane, stopped, until I see a gap, and then floor it. That's worse for safety, fuel efficiency, wear and tear on my drivetrain, my own transportation time, and overall road throughput (everyone blocked behind me).
This is a "boil the oceans" type solution. All you have to do is convince everyone to do it.
Here, we can't even get people to stop blocking the box. The SPD is making short YouTube videos with "PRO TIPS" like "Bus lanes are for buses" [1] and "Don't stop in the street" [2]. The average driver is not at the point of thinking about higher level strategy like merge location yet.
Merging onto a freeway from an on-ramp is different, and zipper merge doesn't usually apply. There's a reason the merge zone is 300-500 metres long (where space permits), and depending on the region, clearly marked with a dashed line. It's up to you to match the speed of traffic, then signal your intention to merge before merging into a gap in traffic. Some on-ramps even have metering lights to space out incoming vehicles to make this process smooth. The only time other vehicles should have to change their speed is in heavy traffic, when a gap might not exist.
> Merging onto a freeway from an on-ramp is different, and zipper merge doesn't usually apply.
I'm not talking about merging onto a freeway from an on-ramp. (I'm told the relevant law for on-ramp merging right-of-way varies by state, in the US.)
> The only time other vehicles should have to change their speed is in heavy traffic, when a gap might not exist.
Heavy traffic is the only time a zipper merge might be relevant in the first place, no? In light traffic, just get in the correct lane whenever you want. It doesn't affect anyone else no matter where you do it.
In fast heavy traffic (when drivers aren't leaving the requisite 4 seconds between cars), there's no reasonable gaps into which to merge. Signaling my intention doesn't change anyone else's behavior, and I don't have the guts to sneak my car into a 20' gap at 60mph. Even if I make it, if the driver in front taps the brakes even slightly, we're all going to have a real bad day.
This is a perfect example of how you can't just transplant one aspect of German driving, in isolation, to American highways. On the Autobahn, nobody's driving full speed for an extended length of time at only 1-1.5 car lengths behind the car in front of them. It's reasonable to say "just merge into the gap" because they leave a gap to merge into.
They have been. It may just not be completely visible beyond their Live at Spotify recordings (which, from the copyrights on those albums, I imagine Spotify still has to pay close to the same royalties for).
My recent Lyfts have had a line included in their post-ride text message that says I should tip my driver to show appreciation for the ride. I rather pay a few dollars more for my ride fare to have the tip built in than deal with this social pressuring.
I recently took the Brightline train between Miami and Fort Lauderdale and was absolutely impressed. It felt as if I had been transported to Europe and aboard a DB train. Staff were professional and competent, stations were bright and clean, and the train was quite fast (in some places). I have an optimistic outlook for their SoCal train.
This is all in stark contrast to my experiences on Amtrak, full of half-caring staff and dirty cars on a train that would be hours behind. I get it, they don't have ROW since they don't own the tracks, but if the long distance trains left stations nearly on time, then they would be able to meet most of the scheduled sidings and pass with ease.
Yeah honestly the fact that Amtrak doesn't run anywhere near "high speed" isn't its biggest problem. Just updating the rolling stock and on-board amenities would be huge.
Another consideration is the pollution you're breathing when walking or deeply breathing while running. Particulate matter, ozone, and carbon monoxide could very well cancel out the benefits of receiving that Vitamin D production you get in some months.
