How to Hitchhike Like a Pro!
Hitchhiking is one of my favourite ways of traveling. You meet
heaps of people (most of them pretty interesting) and I've often found
it to be faster than taking the bus. I've done a fair bit of it. From
Cross-Canada and Europe trips to short little hops near my home. I don't
consider myself an expert but here are some ideas and tips to get you
started.
Appearance:
-Try to look as neat
and tidy as possible. I rock a shave before starting a hitchhiking trip
and usually a clean shirt and pants. If it's going to be a longer trip,
pack some so you can freshen up daily.
Gender/Group:
-Your Gender and Group composition will greatly affect your hitchhiking experience.
-You will need to be much more careful if you're female and hitchhiking by yourself.
-I
think the ideal combination is one female and one male. It's not too
threatening to people picking you up but you still have each other for
safety.
-If you have more than two people it's going to take longer to get picked up.
-Drivers by themselves are less likely to pick up bigger groups of people.
Location:
-If
it's a long journey, you'll probably want to get on the highway. An
on-ramp near a busy rest stop is a good place as the cars will be going
slower. Make sure that cars have plenty of time to see you and a safe
place to pull over and pick you up.
-Be careful, in some places
it's illegal to hitchhike on the highways. If it's a shorter journey,
you can try a local road. Make sure it's relatively busy.
-If you're hitching out of a city, try to get to the outskirts (city bus, subway etc.) before starting to hitchhike.
Map:
-I'd highly recommend bringing along a good map. Don't count on the people who pick you up to know the area and roads well.
-If
you're hitching in a foreign country where you don't speak the language
a map is even more important. I got from Paris to Barcelona mainly by
showing my map, stating my destination, responding with "name of place
c'est bon", and then rocking out to whatever music they had on.
-Bringing along a simple phrase book so you can exchange pleasantries is a good idea as well!
To sign or not to sign:
-The hitchhikers I've met are of a divided opinion over whether or not to use a sign. The main arguments are:
To Sign:
-Let's people know where you're going, if they're going there or close to there they are more likely to stop.
-If
looking for a big long ride, hopefully eliminates people going shorter
distances. 1 big ride is faster (but maybe not as interesting) as 10
smaller rides.
Not to Sign:
-If people aren't going to the same place as you they may not stop (even if they are going the same route and a good distance)
-If they're creeps, they already know where you are going and can claim that they are going there, or near there as well.
So
the decision to sign or not is up to you. I usually use a sign for
longer journeys where I'm hoping to score a big ride instead of a bunch
of smaller ones. If the distance your going is short or there aren't a
lot of places people might turn off (Canadian Prairies) then a sign may
not be necessary. Try both and see what works best for you. Make sure
you've got a sharpie in your bag. The best signs are simple and easy to
understand. I usually just print the name of my destination. For sign
material, heavy cardboard is best, ask at a gas station or store for
some cardboard (box tops work great).
Smile:
-This
is one of the most important parts of hitchhiking. Make sure to smile
and look friendly. I've been picked up multiple times just because I was
smiling (yes the drivers told me that).
- Oh, and also make sure you stick out your thumb. That will definitely help you get a ride!
The Pick Up:
-Someone's
stopped, sweet! Approach the car via the passenger side. If it's just
the driver, open the door and have a chat. This is your chance to decide
whether to take a ride from this person or not. Find out where they're
going and if anything seems dodgy feel free to back out or make an
excuse (I'll wait for someone who's going a farther distance etc.) I
usually hop in, say "thanks for stopping" and go from there.
Friendly and Interested:
-People
usually pick you up for a reason. Maybe they've hitchhiked in the past,
or are bored and want someone to talk to. Make sure you are friendly
(but not too friendly) and rock the conversation. If you can find out
what they're interested in you can get them talking for hours. Swap
stories and make the ride less awkward for both of you. People will
often be curious about where you're going and where you've been.
Safety:
-Every
time you hitchhike you are taking a very small but potentially
dangerous risk. You are getting picked up by strangers and it's possible
that one of them will want to hurt or endanger you.
I've been
lucky while hitchhiking and have only been propositioned a handful of
times (by gay men and older women). A polite refusal has generally been
enough to stop them.
Nonetheless I still carry a in my pocket and
know how to quickly open it. I never had to use it but knowing it was
there made me feel safer.
If you're a female, you should be much
more careful (and prepared). I once got a ride from two girls (and their
two pitbulls) who had done lots of hitchhiking and train hopping. They
were pretty hardcore (at least to white suburban me) girls with lots of
tats and a taste for heavy metal. This is what they packed for security.
Before hitching with a pitbull
-Knife
-mace (pepper spray)
-a teddy bear with a brick sewn into its head
After hitching with a pitbull (both dogs were very nice and friendly)
-Knife
-mace (pepper spray)
-a pitbull
I'd also suggest having a cell phone (even just a cheap 7/11 pay as you go one) so you can call 911 if anything happens.
Camping Out:
-Hitchhiking
offers a great opportunity for some free accommodation. Make sure you
pack a sleeping bag and a small tent, tarp, or bivvy sack,
- If
you're hitching through the countryside/wilderness there are many great
places to sleep for the night. Walk away from the road a bit and into
the bush. Scope out the area and if it looks safe then set up camp for
the night. This lets you get a quick start on hitchhiking the next
morning.
-If your in a city, check out the local public parks. If
you can handle being a bit of a hobo then go for it. Make sure your
discrete and that your in an area where help can be summoned (by
shouting) if you need it. I've rocked many free nights in parks all over
the place.
-Sometimes people who are giving you a ride will offer
you a place to crash for the night. Deciding whether to take them up on
it or not is up to you. You've sat in the car and talked to them so you
should be able to decide whether it's safe or not.
-If someone
your riding with is just stopping for the night before carrying on in
the morning then you can always find a place to pitch your tent and meet
up with them again in the morning to continue your journey.
More Information:
If you're looking for more info on hitchhiking, check out hitchwiki. It's a community driven site with heaps of information.
For an entertaining book about hitchhiking check out "Round Ireland with a Fridge."
Summary:
Alright, that's all I've got for now.
So get out there and give it a try.
Be careful, have fun, and don't forget to smile!
If you have any comments, questions, suggestions, or more hitching tips and tricks please leave them in the comments!
Oh, and feel free to share my post using the links below!
Cheers,
Mitchell
The Travel Packer is a web app created by 2 friends living in Whistler B.C. Canada.
It's a comprehensive packing list creator designed to make getting ready for your next adventure easy and fun.
It features an easy to understand interface and incorporates travel tips and advice.
