Hitchiking in Alaska (Homer, Seward: home, rent, travel)

[PNWhike]

Is it a bad idea to hitch in Alaska? I realize that hitching is inherently risky anywhere you go, Alaska included. Reason I ask is a friend of mine here in Oregon was raised in Seward, Alaska. He mentioned that compared to hitching anywhere in the lower 48, hitchiking in Alaska relatively safe. Is there any truth to that? I am thrilled to say I will be coming to Alaska this summer for the first time! I don't plan on hitching too much while in Alaska, but I wonder if it is a feesable alternative to the expensive train, bus, etc. I'm so excited to visit your wonderful state! Thanks for your opinions

[Manmountain]

Ya I think its safe and would do it in a heartbeat. I had good luck doing it in alaska.

In the summer its hard to get a ride cause most of the traffic is tourists (paranoid lower 48ers) and they dont pick up hitchers very much. Could get ya stranded for a few days--- you could buy a bike for 20$ and ride a while then give it away-- or walk. I was in Dawson once and there were 2 guys with a homemade log raft floating the yukon hukfin style. I talked to them-- they didnt have a care in the world-- they were getting off at circle or ruby...

If ya get hit on by some perv. dont panic,, just tell them you like woman sorry--

Carry bugdope in case ya get stranded and need relief.

Pick up a mini pepper spray at a sporting goods or gun shop if your still worried, -- great weapon specially if the perp dosent expect it.

Have fun , its a great way to travel

[Rance]

I think more drivers have been killed by hitchhikers than visa versa.

[Barkingowl]

Originally Posted by Rance

I think more drivers have been killed by hitchhikers than visa versa.

In Alaska?

[DannyL]

Be advised it is illegal in most areas.

[Marty Van Diest]

It's illegal to hitchhike?? I didn't know that. I think it must be legal around here.

[Rance]

Originally Posted by Barkingowl

In Alaska?

Yes. It's not the freaks picking up hitchhikers. It's drivers picking up freaks that are hitchhiking.
We get hundreds of hitchhikers in my area starting in spring. Mostly younger folks headed to Homer to work canneries for the summer. I've met some very good hitchhiking folks over the years. And a handfull of freaks.

[User 2]

Originally Posted by DannyL

Be advised it is illegal in most areas.

No, it's not illegal in most areas.

As you can see, it's legal in most areas.

13 AAC 02.175 Pedestrians on highways

(a) Where a sidewalk is provided and its use is practicable, a pedestrian may not walk upon an adjacent roadway except when crossing the roadway.

(b) Where a sidewalk is not available, a pedestrian walking upon a highway shall walk on a shoulder as far as practicable from the edge of the roadway. Where neither a sidewalk nor a shoulder is available, a pedestrian walking on a highway shall walk as near as practicable to the outside edge of the highway and, if walking along a two-way roadway, shall walk only on the left side of the roadway. No pedestrian may walk on a controlled-access highway except in an emergency.

(c) Repealed 6/28/79. [Where neither a sidewalk nor a shoulder is available any pedestrian walking along and upon a highway shall walk as near as practicable to an outside edge of the roadway, and if on a two-way roadway, shall walk only on the left side of the roadway.]

(d) No pedestrian may be upon or along a roadway in such a manner as to create an unreasonable risk of danger to himself or interfere with the normal flow of traffic.

(e) No pedestrian may sleep or loiter upon a highway or, without lawful permit, obstruct free passage upon a highway.
13 AAC 02.180 Pedestrians soliciting rides or business

No person may solicit a ride in a manner which distracts a driver's attention, nor may a pedestrian upon a highway solicit employment, business, or contributions from the occupant of a vehicle.
AS § 19.20.020 Authority to establish controlled-access facilities
AS § 19.20.030 Design of controlled-access facility

[The last sentence of Alaska statute § 19.20.020 states that "the department [Department of Transportation and Public Facilities] or the municipality may regulate, restrict, or prohibit the use of controlled-access facilities by the various classes of vehicles or traffic in a manner consistent with the definition of a controlled-access facility." The first sentence of statute AS § 19.20.030 states that "The department and a municipality may design a controlled-access facility and may regulate, restrict, or prohibit access to best serve the traffic for which the facility is intended."]
13 AAC 02.095 Use of divided and controlled-access highways - restrictions

(b) When the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities or a municipality, with respect to a controlled-access highway under its jurisdiction, prohibits or limits the use of the highway to certain types of vehicles or traffic, it must erect and maintain signs on the highway notifying drivers of the limitations.

The only place it's illegal is on controlled access 'freeways' which are also clearly posted as prohibiting hitchhiking.

Since we have very few 'freeways', and fewer still where it's posted, it's legal in most cases, and in most areas, to hitchhike in Alaska.
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[bongo]

It certainly is not safe for a female to hitchhike here.

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by PNWhike

Is it a bad idea to hitch in Alaska? I realize that hitching is inherently risky anywhere you go, Alaska included. Reason I ask is a friend of mine here in Oregon was raised in Seward, Alaska. He mentioned that compared to hitching anywhere in the lower 48, hitchiking in Alaska relatively safe. Is there any truth to that? I am thrilled to say I will be coming to Alaska this summer for the first time! I don't plan on hitching too much while in Alaska, but I wonder if it is a feesable alternative to the expensive train, bus, etc. I'm so excited to visit your wonderful state! Thanks for your opinions

I have never done any hitchhiking in Alaska, but I have picked up quite a few hitchhikers over the years. Mostly during the summer months. If I don't have my dogs with me, and if I'm going more than a mile or two, and if the hitchhiker is somewhere I can safely stop without causing a problem for the traffic behind me, I will stop. Hitchhikers should keep in mind that if there is no place for a vehicle to pull over, they usually won't. So standing and hitchhiking at an intersection or on an on-ramp, for example, isn't going to get many people stopping. Walk a couple hundred feet from the intersection or on-ramp, in the direction you want to go, and make sure there is enough room for a vehicle to safely pull over. I have never had a problem with hitchhikers and I will continue to pick up hitchhikers in the future.

I did a lot of hitchhiking in the late-1960s and early-1970s in the lower-48, and it was relatively easy to get a ride back then and the people always seemed friendly. I couldn't say what the hitchhiking experience is like today, although it wouldn't surprise me if Alaskans pick up hitchhikers more often than lower-48ers.