Hitchhiking (France, Spain, trip, drivers)

[jtur88]

Have you ever hitchhiked, either in your own country, on on a trip abroad?

When I was in college, I hitchhiked all the time, 1,000 miles each way, I could do it in less time than the Greyhound Bus, back in the 50s when everybody hitched and everybody picked you up.

I just counted, maybe I missed some, I've hitchhiked in 41 countries. But that counts all three forms:
1. Standing on the side of the road with your thumb out.
2. Asking strangers for a lift where you can find them.
3. Accepting free rides from strangers, that might be arranged for you.

An example of category 3 was when I was going from Sierra Leone to Liberia. I got dropped off by a bush taxi that only went to the border, at night, and the Liberian immigration said there was no transport until morning, they had a room we could sleep in. Then they came in a little later and said a French traveler had just arrived, driving to Monrovia, we could ride with him. Bummer, had to pay for a room when we got there.

I find it a bit puzzling when people say they would never hitchhike "anymore, these days". As if people are creepier now than they were 50 years ago. The reason hitchhiking has gone into decline is because of fear of the hitchers, not fear of the drivers.

[Trimac20]

Originally Posted by jtur88

Have you ever hitchhiked, either in your own country, on on a trip abroad?

When I was in college, I hitchhiked all the time, 1,000 miles each way, I could do it in less time than the Greyhound Bus, back in the 50s when everybody hitched and everybody picked you up.

I just counted, maybe I missed some, I've hitchhiked in 41 countries. But that counts all three forms:
1. Standing on the side of the road with your thumb out.
2. Asking strangers for a lift where you can find them.
3. Accepting free rides from strangers, that might be arranged for you.

An example of category 3 was when I was going from Sierra Leone to Liberia. I got dropped off by a bush taxi that only went to the border, at night, and the Liberian immigration said there was no transport until morning, they had a room we could sleep in. Then they came in a little later and said a French traveler had just arrived, driving to Monrovia, we could ride with him. Bummer, had to pay for a room when we got there.

I find it a bit puzzling when people say they would never hitchhike "anymore, these days". As if people are creepier now than they were 50 years ago. The reason hitchhiking has gone into decline is because of fear of the hitchers, not fear of the drivers.

I tried getting a ride one time - but only for a short way up a mountain. I stuck my thumb up for about fifteen minutes, but ended up just walking all the way up.

I've arranged to travel with others but only through gumtree, which is a bit like craigslist I guess. We met up before-hand and stuff to get to know each other. Even then I had a weird/creepy experience. Usually it's fine. It's easier to find travel buddies these days. I would not recommend a single traveller hitch-hike or pick up hitchers (sorry if you're a hitch-hiker!) unless they're desperate and you're absolutely sure. Even if there's two or more of you be on your guard. What I'd be most afraid of are car-jackings by hitch-hikers.

[intelfan11315]

I hitchhike in my own city a lot of times during the winter and it is too cold to walk home from the bar :P

[BlueWillowPlate]

I did it every now and then, in Colorado and in Spain many years ago when I was a young woman. I once used the ride bulletin board in San Francisco to get a ride home to Colorado. Nothing bad ever happened.

These days, my son and his girlfriend occasionally hitchhike together now in France.

Is this kind of thing taking a chance? Yes. Can bad stuff happen? Yes.
Do I worry sometimes about my kids? Yes, but it's not as if I lose sleep over it.