Hitchhiking and Carpooling

Hitchhiking

Brief History

From the golden age of hitchhiking to its gradual decline and replacement by carpooling...

Hitchhiking appeared almost at the same time as the first vehicles and experienced its "golden age" in the 1960s to 1980s. Beyond travelling on a budget, hitchhiking remains above all a great way to meet other people and live an adventure in complete freedom.

But these days, hitchhiking—at least in its "original" form of waiting by the roadside with your thumb out—is tending to disappear. Even if travellers may have an easier time than before, it’s mainly societal changes that are to blame. A society increasingly focused on itself, extremely concerned with safety and appearances (the image of the hitchhiker associated with the homeless), and ultimately not very open to others. As a result, fewer and fewer people hitchhike, and fewer and fewer are willing to pick up hitchhikers. Especially since, in the meantime, "carpooling" has emerged and developed.

Carpooling has, in a way, become the hitchhiking of the 21st century. Here, everything is arranged in advance through specialised organisations. You know who will pick you up or who you’ll be picking up, when, where to, and even the price, since the system usually requires a financial contribution from the hitchhiker. Even if the idea of sharing a stretch of road remains, it’s a far cry from the hitchhiking of the past...

Practical Hitchhiking

Where to Hitchhike?

For you to expand: On what kind of roads and, more importantly, in which countries can you hitchhike, or where is it worthwhile?

Clothing and Luggage

For you to expand: Logically, it’s first and foremost visually that a driver will judge you. So, clothing, attitude, and luggage will need to be considered.

Location and a Few Hitchhiking Rules

For you to expand: How to leave big cities, where to position yourself to have the best chance of being picked up, plus a few basic hitchhiking principles.

Hitchhiking Alone, in a Group, or for Women

For you to expand: Advantages and disadvantages...

Once You’re Picked Up

For you to expand: Attitude and behaviour towards the person who picked you up. A few basic rules.

Carpooling

For you to expand: What is carpooling, plus the organisations and other specialised structures in this field.