Hitchhiking

• The three most important factors for getting a ride are: location, location, and location. You need to find a place where you can be seen early (to give the driver time to decide to pick you up), and where the driver can safely pull over. Ideally, there should be some traffic, but not too much, as this makes pulling over difficult and makes drivers assume that you can always get a ride with somebody else.
• Don't try to catch a ride from downtown, instead catch public transport to the edge of town. City drivers are mostly traveling short distances, and it can be difficult for you to stand out or get them to stop in heavy traffic. Check your map, or ask around, to find a good spot.
• If your destination is a large city, first choice is usually to be dropped in a central location near your destination; second choice is a transit-friendly location such as a large mall or a subway/metro station. An outer suburb will typically have fewer public transit options; suburban local bus may require multiple transfers and multiple fares, while a commuter rail station may have no train service outside peak traffic hours.
• For long-distance travel, never get taken into the middle of town! You will most likely find it very difficult to get back out. Get dropped off close to the highway—especially if the main road bypasses the commercial district. For instance, the only suitable location in tiny Wawa might be out beside the big goose on the Trans-Canada Highway.
• Unattended highway rest areas are ill-advised, particularly in the USA, due to the number of "disturbing incidents" at these locales... and the reputation for them which leads many motorists to avoid them. Motorists may assume that you were thrown out of a vehicle there.
• An exception to the "rest area" rule is the commercial rest area, "oasis" or "service plaza". These are generally safer as they're staffed businesses with generally more people patronizing them. You will want to purchase a small item so as not to be trespassing on the concessionaires' leased area. A CB radio (to talk to truck drivers, and other people with CB radios passing by on the main line of the highway) is a good tool for service areas. You can purchase a handheld one for around US$40.00 at many truck stops (if you travel internationally, check what channels, if any, can be used abroad).
• The absolute best place to catch a good ride is on a public highway on ramp, near a truck stop, but not on the truck stop property itself, as those are good places to get thrown out of for trespassing. In Northern California (US 101) and in the Seattle area, many highway on-ramps are also bus stops and thus do double duty in regards to catching a ride.
• Land borders where traffic has to stop are great. One caveat to hitching just before a border, however, is that drivers may be wary of transporting you across an international border itself, thus decreasing your chances of catching a ride. You may find better success crossing the border on foot, and hitching from the other side. If you attempt this, be aware of when a border is buffered by a militarized "no-man's land," through which it is illegal to cross on foot or camp, making it crucial to find a ride within this few-hundred-metre stretch of road before dark. The border between Turkey and Greece is one such example. Also, sneaking into countries is an option, albeit an ill-advised and illegal one.
• Fuel stations where many cars stop are good. In some countries, such as Mexico, the attendants may even help you on your journey. It takes a bit more gusto, but there is a much better chance of success if you actually ask someone for a ride. Though, if you are not doing business at the station, there is a possibility of getting thrown off the property. Just be cordial and leave if you are asked to.
• Laybys and roadside picnic areas are good, although less so in the USA as roadside picnic areas tend to be in the middle of nowhere.
• Avoid places where drivers cannot easily and legally stop. After a crossroads, where the cars have just picked up speed, many may not want to slow down. However, shortly after traffic lights might be lucky, because drivers have enough time to notice you, namely when they are waiting for a green light.
• Getting a ride at night is very difficult. You might have some luck at a filling station, where people can see you, but realistically you are probably better off camping out for the night and starting off again at first light.
• Local public transit can bypass segments which are not pedestrian-friendly, such as the Windsor-Detroit border crossing, but will typically cost a few dollars.
• Take advice from non-hitchhikers as to the best places for hitching with a grain of salt.
• Check the map for popular tourist spots in the area—Rental car agencies often have good and free maps.

• Asking around doesn't hurt. If people notice you're friendly and speak their language (or one they feel comfortable talking, or one they want to practice) you have a much higher chance of getting a ride from them.
• Make sure you know the right gestures used locally to stop a car. The thumb up sign works in some parts of the world, but has very different meanings in some areas. An outstretched waving arm is another common gesture, but generally defer to locals. Drivers may also use gestures: pointing downwards with the index finger means that they're staying in town. A swirling motion with a downward pointed finger is the same, but can also mean that you might see them again in a minute or so as they make the trip again. A flat hand down means that the car is weighted down, aka full.
• Sometimes walking in the direction you want to go, especially if nobody is stopping to pick you up, can attract rides. It also might bring you closer to your destination and in reach of new traffic of other junctions. On the other hand, if you wander too far from a town, people may wonder what you did to get stranded there, it might be hard to get back in case it gets dark, or put you in an inhospitable environment such as a desert or up in the mountains. Nevertheless, statistically every on-ramp you pass while walking increases the chances of a person going to your final destination passing you, and hitchhiking truly is a numbers game, the more cars that pass you the more likely you are to get a ride.
• Nod or wave thanks to all who at least give you eye contact and especially those who give you gestures explaining why they cannot take you. Not only does it lighten the fear of hitchers and make you feel much better along the way, some may even come back and pick you up. Not to be counted on though.
• A big cardboard sign with an indication of where you want to go can help. Short general directions like North, or West can be written bigger—and seen from further away—than a longer city or town, but a city is more useful for drivers.
  • Nonspecific 'general' directions are really only useful at on-ramps where traffic goes in two directions, like standing before a toll plaza, otherwise, the next town with a truck stop is recommended.
  • Avoid writing destinations far away, this gives you a good excuse to get off if you feel uncomfortable with the driver, you can always agree to go further if the driver turns out to be going your way. Also, indicating close destinations will attract short lifts. In Germany 200 km seems to be a good distance.
  • It can be a good idea to not indicate your final destination. If you can get a ride in a direction that is not exactly the best one, it could still be a good idea to take it, since you might be able to get more rides from that spot.
  • Some people do not believe in direction signs, and suggest funny ones ("I DON'T STINK") or nothing at all.
  • Holding your sign upside down may sometimes help to get a ride out of pity.
  • If you speak the local language, saying this on your sign may also be useful.
• Some drivers will not stop based on their own racial, cultural, or gender prejudice. While this can be upsetting, consider that you may be better off not riding with such a person.
• If you are travelling with a companion, stand together and make it obvious that you want a ride together. Drivers don't want to be surprised by an extra person. Do not let someone split you up unless you are very desperate.
• Always stay happy and send a smile—even if people react nastily.
• If you are more of an adventurous type, try hiking around with a large or unusual object. Tony Hawks hiked through Ireland with a fridge and wrote a book about it. It seems to help getting rides and ... there's always something to talk about!
• If hitchhiking in the USA, you may want to buy a military-style carrying sack at a Military Surplus Store. These items are easily recognizable and can incite interest/sympathy from drivers. They're also relatively cheap. If the driver asks about your military background, a white lie such as "My cousin gave it to me" will usually do the trick. Be prepared to have a small, believable story ready if you use such an explanation. The downside to a military carrying sack is that they're harder to carry than a framed backpack.
• Another writer, based on decades of hitching in the USA, has developed these rules:
  • Wear white or a very light color. It implies cleanliness and is far easier to see, plus the cops react favorably.
  • Remember that the driver has only a second to see you. Stand near a highway sign so drivers have a better chance to focus in time to stop.
  • If you cannot walk where you're going, don't try. Better to spend some time at a fair spot than waste that time trudging through the boonies.
  • If possible, carry your belongings in a large briefcase or similar. You'll be welcome in clean new cars and in places where a duffle bag is inappropriate. Visiting a laundromat pays off in better rides.
  • Use signs. A piece of yellow lightweight plastic sign material is ideal, along with strips of black electrical tape to make the letters. A big LA works better than a smaller Los Angeles.
  • Do not smoke while trying to catch a ride. Decide which is more important to you.
  • Finally, ask yourself: would I pick me up? Think like a driver who might enjoy giving you a ride.

• Be aware that solitary male drivers are the most likely to pick you up. Do not completely discount female drivers or families as a possibility, but they are much less common. Nevertheless, they become more likely if you are female.
• If you're waiting for a long time and all the cars that want to take you go in the wrong direction it can be a good idea to let them take you anyway—just to drop you at a better spot.
• Sometimes you get an offer that brings you a little way in the right direction. This can be okay, but if you're at a place where lots of cars stop, it could be a better idea to wait for an offer that brings you a lot further.
• Ask if you can be dropped at a good spot for getting more rides if your ride isn't bringing you to your final destination, e.g. a gas station or a toll place.
• When possible, try to agree about where to be dropped off so you don't end up in a bad place.

• A somewhat more reliable alternative is ride sharing. People who travel long distance advertise their trips on the internet and you can ask for a ride, but you are usually expected to pay. Sites in different countries use different systems, but it is best to find a site which concentrates on long-distance and one-off trips rather than regular commutes. University student often need long rides home, so might have usable fora.
• Using a digital system is good for safety as it provides a record of communication between driver and passenger should anything go wrong.
• Getting over bodies of water require somewhat different strategies, see Hitchhiking boats.

While a mobile telephone and automobile association membership may be all that prevent the average motorist becoming a hitchhiker themselves the next time their vehicle breaks down at roadside, most drivers have their own safety concerns when dealing with hitchhikers. Many will not offer rides at all because they fear a passenger may harm them or steal from them. Others may stop only if they're not already carrying passengers or valuables, or may be hesitant to stop at night or in an unfamiliar area.

There are also road safety issues.

• Make yourself visible from as long a distance as possible. Physically, the distance a vehicle needs to decelerate is proportional to velocity squared; that's four times the distance to safely stop on a highway vs. a half-as-fast local road. If you stand on Deadman's Curve at night in fog or blizzard conditions expecting drivers to slam on the brakes for you, this isn't making it easier for the motorist.
• The driver is doing you a favour by offering you a free ride. Don't abuse their generosity by immediately asking for handouts ("spare some change?") or trying to convince them to go far out of their way for you ("You're going to Ottawa? Could you drop me in Montreal?").
• Smoking can be an awkward issue; don't make your non-smoking driver open all the windows just because you couldn't wait until the next rest stop to light up. Preferably wait for a moment after your smoke before trying to get a ride. Conversely, if you're an asthma patient and your driver is hopelessly addicted to nicotine, your options are limited—you can ask to be let off at the next safe spot to try to get a ride from someone else, but that's about it.
• Border crossings can be problematic. Entering a foreign land is awkward enough; bringing a hitchhiker across an international boundary will give customs and immigration officials a pretext to pick apart the vehicle just that little bit more—and some borders cannot be passed on foot.
• Don't leave items behind when you get out of the vehicle; make sure you have everything (including any rubbish) with you when you disembark.
• Don't expect your driver to do anything unsafe or prohibited, such as an illegal U-turn on a divided motorway or a sudden stop to let you disembark in a "no stopping" or "no pedestrian" zone.
• Many drivers pick you up to get nice company. Try to provide that. Be talkative if it seems your driver likes it, but be alert on when the driver needs to concentrate on the driving (e.g. in a crossroads or trying to overtake), he gets tired of your hobby horse, wants to talk about his, or just wants some peace.
• Lastly, the driver is a complete stranger who is just trying to get safely to the next town. Save the more bizarre enquiries ("I've always had a need for adrenalin; mind if I ride on top of the car?") for someone who actually knows you and can judge whether this is real or all just some bizarre joke.

Respect is a two-way street. If you are a motorist, you are under no obligation to offer free rides but you are legally and morally responsible for the safety of any passengers you do agree to transport. Operate your vehicle responsibly, keeping your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel; food, drink, mobile telephones and other distractions can wait. Allow passengers to disembark in safe locations with access to onward transport if they're not within walking distance of the destination.

It is not unheard of, e.g. in Eastern Europe, that drivers take you for the ride inviting you in, just to turn out to be taxis which demand a heavy and uncommon charge for their ride. This is different from countries where paying for a ride is the normal practice (see the country table below). It is unlikely to happen for shorter distances, e.g. where you just go a few kilometer to reach a nearby destination.

In a dodgy twist of this scam, the scammer will put up their "taxi" sign ontop of the roof during the ride (e.g. unnoticed at a rest stop or so) and claim it was there all along and you just missed it. While of course he could actually be a taxi (but the missing meter points against that), in no country will a price ever be negociated at the middle or end of the ride.

Don't get fooled, they will prey upon your innocence!

Red flags include:

• They will pretend the ride is free when you ask how much it is when entering their vehicle.
• A highly inflated proposed fare compared to other costs in that country.
• Only at the last instance they will come up with the topic of payment, putting the blame and pressure upon you.
• They will point to their taxi sign on the roof, and pretend you missed it—even though proper taxis always have a meter.
• When not intending to pay, they will claim to drive to the police. However, while this might sound worrying, the police will more often be on your side.

To avoid:

• Clearly state that you intend to ride for free (in some former Soviet countries, including Turkic-speaking ones, the use of the word autostop might help as well as in Turkey where otostop is better understood) and/or that you do not have any money with you—use a translator.
• Just ask whether they are taxi or say taxi, no! and wait for a confirmation.
• Have all your belonging with you ready, just in case things go sideways.
• If there are already other people in the car, it is particularly important that the driver understands your intentions.

In case things still go sideways:

• Demand to be brought to a police station where to settle the issue. Most police station will not be on the taxi driver side and understand that something is wrong.
• Call the police and demand advice, tell them where you are and what is happening, especially when the driver doesn't stop. They might be able to spot you, or at least they got your number.
• Come up with some coins and pretend that this is all you got. If it covers the fuel costs, the scammer will probably back down.
• As a last resort, leave the car at the first instance possible and walk away as quickly as possible, potentially into a direction the scammer cannot follow with his car. At all costs avoid getting brought somewhere where there are more taxi drivers or even friends of the scammer.
• If you get the chance, note down or take a picture of the vehicles licence plate and make a report at the nearest police station.

Don't hope for the help of any other people already in the vehicle. They might be complices or innocent by-standers, you cannot know.

• If a driver goes off the main/right road don't be shy about opening the door while the car is moving. Make an excuse, needing the toilet or to throw up or something. Even being on a period (learn the local word...or just wave a tampon at them in panic. The shock might be enough). Don't waste time if this ever happens. Maybe it's a harmless detour, maybe it's not. Check the map before you leave.
• Persistence! This is a big one, if a man insists you get into/ get back into the car, firmly walk away. Don't even listen, give a "no, thank you" and turn away.
• Touching. Even in countries where physical contact is more acceptable, do not just brush off unwelcome 'friendly' touching as a cultural difference. Yes, touching is often more accepted outside of the West but not between men and women and rarely between strangers.
• Questions about your route, your internet and your phone.

• Carry a rolling pin strapped to the side of a backpack. This one works surprisingly well. If officials ask about it, you're a keen cook and you like to make 'lavash', or whatever, and it usually just gets a laugh. If you're in real trouble it works as a baton, babushka-style. Hold it on the side away from the driver. Don't carry a knife unless you really know how to use it. Pepper spray can work but in an enclosed space like a car, it'll affect you too, so get out fast, ideally during the spraying.
• If you carry a smartphone or a map, follow it explicitly while they're driving. Even innocently check every so often, "it's straight here, yes?"
• Don't get in a car with multiple men and no women. Why would you?
• Trucks are generally safer. They have a route to stick to, they're slow so you have time to evaluate a situation, they can't go off onto smaller roads, you sit far away from the driver (although negatives are that it's a long jump down and that the passenger door can be locked from the driver's side)... in short, if a trucker wants to rape you it's just an awful lot of effort.
• Don't hitch risky roads (isolated country lanes, mountain roads, desert etc.) when it's late or you're tired/hungover/drunk or however not at your best. Just take a bus to the nearest town and ask an official if someone has a spare room. People are generally good, you'll find somewhere.
• Don't rely on a wedding ring and a fake husband to help you, or often even on other women.
• Tie your hair up and don't wear loose clothes that can be grabbed, you want to be able to get out of a car fast.
• If worst comes to worst, a sharp jab to the throat (when the car is slow or stopped) is easy from the passenger side and gives you a little time to get out.