hitchhiking

[theMan]

i'm in the beginning stages of planning a hitchhiking trip across the country. i have no previous experience hitchhiking. anyone have some tips/advice for me? initially i was just going to walk out of town one day and stick out my thumb, but i realized i'll need a bit more planning. anyone here hitchhiked long distances before?

 

[I Saw OJ]

Dont get killed.

 

[roid450]

Or raped

 

[Proprioceptive]

Follow the signs

 

[Leros]

Leave your chainsaw at home or nobody will pick you up.

 

[IronWing]

Hitching in the east is easy, lots of folks willing to offer rides. Hitching in the west is difficult and you may spend a lot of time on the side of the road so have food and water. Stay away from the interstate highways, the creepy people ratio is much higher on the interstates than elsewhere.

 

[Glitchny]

this seems like a decent place to start.

 

[DrawninwarD]

WHY?

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: Leros
Leave your chainsaw at home or nobody will pick you up.

Unless you have Bud Light.

 

[theMan]

Originally posted by: DrawninwarD
WHY?

i'm tired of where i am and i want to go somewhere else.

 

[thomsbrain]

Man, no way I would do this.

The only hitchhikers I've ever personally picked up were obviously students on the way to campus when I was on my way to school. And even then I'd only pick up the pretty girls.

 

[illusion88]

Why not get a bike?

I have hitched plenty, although never across state boarders. Only one person has ever asked me for money for gas. I wouldn't worry too much, but have common sense and listen to your gut. If it feels wrong, you should probably skip that ride.

 

[DrPizza]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXz-HCcDUHY

Can't believe no one posted this yet.

 

[ManchesterManson]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXz-HCcDUHY

Can't believe no one posted this yet.

Heh, George Carlin ftw. :laugh:

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

no grass, no ass, no gas.

 

[arrfep]

Go for it. I've hitched a couple times, once literally in the middle of the desert in southern UT and once to get across the Chesapeake Bay bridge. I was on my loaded touring bicycle both times and was able to flag down a ride for me and all my cargo. I would absolutely love to hitch across the USA or Europe. IMO, the best thing about traveling is meeting people, and when you hitch you are guaranteed to meet someone who is at least cool enough to give you a ride. Or kill you. But I guess that's the chance you take, yeah?

 

[natto fire]

Originally posted by: ironwing
Hitching in the east is easy, lots of folks willing to offer rides. Hitching in the west is difficult and you may spend a lot of time on the side of the road so have food and water. Stay away from the interstate highways, the creepy people ratio is much higher on the interstates than elsewhere.

I'm going to assume you have never lived in the west, or your idea of west is California, which let's face it, is it's own fucked up country. Anyhow, I have picked up several hitchhikers here in New Mexico, and have never had any problems or heard of any hardships from them with finding rides. Two of them looked really scary too, and still claimed they had no problems hitching. I also have seen lots of hitchhiking when I visited Colorado, and have heard stories that it is one of the best states to hitch in. That being said, I fully agree with your interstate comment, although I would not hesitate to pick up a hitchhiker on the interstate, I never see them around.

P.S. Don't forget the guide...

 

[Newbian]

Originally posted by: roid450
Or raped

Where is the fun then?

 

[IronWing]

Originally posted by: Captain Howdy

Originally posted by: ironwing
Hitching in the east is easy, lots of folks willing to offer rides. Hitching in the west is difficult and you may spend a lot of time on the side of the road so have food and water. Stay away from the interstate highways, the creepy people ratio is much higher on the interstates than elsewhere.

I'm going to assume you have never lived in the west, or your idea of west is California, which let's face it, is it's own fucked up country. Anyhow, I have picked up several hitchhikers here in New Mexico, and have never had any problems or heard of any hardships from them with finding rides. Two of them looked really scary too, and still claimed they had no problems hitching. I also have seen lots of hitchhiking when I visited Colorado, and have heard stories that it is one of the best states to hitch in. That being said, I fully agree with your interstate comment, although I would not hesitate to pick up a hitchhiker on the interstate, I never see them around.

P.S. Don't forget the guide...

I was offering my personal observations from both hitching and offering rides in the east (WI, IL, IN, OH, KY, TN, NC, GA, MO, AR) and in the west (NM, AZ, UT, WY, CO, NE, OK, TX). Hitching on the reservations is a bit easier than than other places in the west and seems to be a primary mode of transportation on the Navajo res. Utah was the worst with hours along side the road between rides and even then the folks who offered rides were from the mid-west. That was my experience.