What's with all the hitchhikers? Isn't it illegal?

[Steve Pickering]

Originally Posted by oregonwoodsmoke

I don't think it is illegal, but it is certainly extremely dangerous, for either party involved.

It is illegal in many states. A read of this link and you will see it is either illegal in the entire state or illegal in much of the roadways within the state in the majority of states. USA Laws on Hitching

[Priscilla Martin]

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

In most places it's only illegal where posted, usually on ramps where it could be dangerous to stop due to heavy traffic, and near prisons.

Originally Posted by Steve Pickering

It is illegal in many states. A read of this link and you will see it is either illegal in the entire state or illegal in much of the roadways within the state in the majority of states. USA Laws on Hitching

I thought ORS 814.80 prohibited all hitchhiking.........(1) A person commits the offense of unlawful hitchhiking if the person is on a roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride. I suppose the police have bigger fish to fry. Oregon used to have signs at every on ramp, or so it seemed regarding hitchhiking and non motorized vehicles which you see on the freeway shoulders now.

As for motorized vehicles and pedestrians....Bicycles and Pedestrians are banned on the following segments of freeway:
PORTLAND AREA
A) I-84: From I-5 (MP 0.00) to
Eastbound: 122nd Street (MP 10.25)
Westbound: Sandy Blvd (MP 15.14)
B) US 26: East of the Jefferson Street On/Off Ramps (MP 73.35),
through the Vista Ridge tunnel, up to I-405.
C) I-5: from the Kruse Way / OR 217 Interchange (MP 292.20) to the Delta Park
Interchange (MP 306.70).
D) I-205: North of the OR 43 (West Linn) Interchange (MP 8.82)
E) I-405: Whole Length
F) US 30: From I-405 (MP 0.00) to 23rd Street (MP 1.99).
MEDFORD AREA
A) I-5: From the South Medford (Barnett Road) Interchange (MP 27.58) to the North
Medford (OR 238 / OR 62 - Crater Lake Highway) Interchange (M.P. 30.29).

[Steve Pickering]

Oregon does ban all hitch hiking and often enforce the law with a citation. If you are not a regular hitchhiker you wouldn't see it.

[WolfBoy914]

Some of them also might have been PCT through hikers trying to get to the nearest town... Just a thought

[Brynach]

Maybe they are trying to get to Burning Man which is happening well, nowish.

[pdxMIKEpdx]

I think Brynach nailed it.

Burning Man started yesterday (Aug 26) and ends on Sept 2.

Burning Man :: Welcome Home

[Steve Pickering]

I think you're right.

[Brynach]

Unlikely they are actually going to the event, it costs hundreds of dollars, but there are probably sub events or activity around it. I don't know.

[Deezus]

Originally Posted by WolfBoy914

Some of them also might have been PCT through hikers trying to get to the nearest town... Just a thought

There are a number of PCT hikers who hitchhike into town this time of year, but they aren't out by the Dalles. The route crosses the Columbia/I-84 near Cascade Locks and goes south towards Hood. There's even a PCT Days Festival in Cascade Locks next weekend.

I can tell PCT hikers vs. hippie festival hitchhikers vs. down and out drifters when I see someone with their thumb out. I'll always pick up PCT hikers who are hitchhiking into town or back to the trail this time of year when I'm up near Hood or Rainier or somewhere else in the Cascades(and I usually ignore the others). It's backpacking karma, since I've done long through hikes and needed a ride back to the original trailhead or into town. But when you see someone hitchhiking way up in the mountains near a trailhead it's not the same as out on interstate on ramps or in the city.