Comments on: Let the “5-star hitchhiking” campaign begin

By: The Touchwood Project » Going car-free and carefree

The Touchwood Project » Going car-free and carefree — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:21:43 +0000

[...] and car sharing are two alternatives we’d like to develop further. We’ve written a bit about this already, and will be doing much more in the coming [...]

By: Barry Clemson

Barry Clemson — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:02:22 +0000

My brothers and I used to hitchhike all the time (in the 60s and 70s). Several of us hitched from the East coast to the West coast, from Alaska to Pennsylvania, etc. And for several years as a college student I hitched home from college every day (Never had a problem getting a ride except when the weather was really nasty!) In those days I never failed to pick up a hitchhiker when I was driving.

In recent years all of us have been traumatized by a news media that focuses on blood and gore so that almost all of us are afraid to either hitchhike or pick up a hitchhiker. My suspicion is that this fear is absolutely groundless, but all of us have it. It is even illegal in many US localities. Also, we have been brainwashed that only nefarious folk or neer-do-wells hitchhike. Our mindset needs to change.

By: Barry Clemson

Barry Clemson — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:55:17 +0000

Washington DC has a very successful variant of hitchhiking that carries thousands of people to and from work every day. Some years ago (not sure how long), people needing rides began to gather after work at specific points and people with cars picked them up. So many people gather at these points that they form lines to get in the cars picking them up. I don’t know how this system originated or the details of how it works, but I suspect the hitchhikers pay some small fee toward the gas. I suspect that a little judicious googling would find some info on how this system works, its history, etc.

By: Laura Kidd

Laura Kidd — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:10:58 +0000

Hi Malcolm and Rachel
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on hitchhiking.
Hitchhiking is much more common here in France than it is in the UK and I often stop and pick up students that are trying to get around cheaply (although I select my hikers with care!).

One thing that crossed my mind is that obviously hitchhiking is a good way to reduce your carbon footprint, but can one claim all of the reduction for oneself or should this saving be shared equally by the hitcher and the driver?

I absolutely loved Malcolm’s story about his hitchhiking adventure to London … there is no substitute for politesse ))

Keep the interesting blog entries coming!

Laura
x

By: A new way to travel around Orkney? | The Touchwood Project

A new way to travel around Orkney? | The Touchwood Project — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:37:45 +0000

[...] and effort-saving as a car, it had better be for something good. Now one possibility we wrote about the other day is hitchhiking. I think this has enormous potential for our island in particular, but what if you [...]

By: Tracey Todhunter

Tracey Todhunter — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:48:54 +0000

Hi Malcolm and Rachel – thanks for reminding why I used to love this mode of travel so much – yes it has drawbacks and there are safety issues, but after a long, hard day talking about climate change, Age of Stupid and all kinds of mullarkey, your post has reminded me life is an adventure and the world is full of opportunities. Cheers Tx