Massachusetts

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Massachusetts is a state in the northeast of the United States of America. You can cross the state quickly on the I-90, if you avoid Springfield.

Law

720 CMR

9.09
(6)Pedestrians Soliciting Rides or Business. No person shall stand in a roadway (please see definition of roadway in this context below!) for the purpose of soliciting a ride, employment or business from the operator or occupant of any vehicle without the written permission of the board or officer having control over such roadway or higway.
5.102 Definitions
Roadway: That portion of a higway between regularly established curb lines,or that part, exclusive of shoulders, improved and intended to be used for vehicular traffic.

730 CMR

7.05: Massachusetts Turnpike Authority
(8)No individual may engage in the solicitation of a ride, commonly known as "hitchhiking," on a way. No person shall loiter in or about a way for the purpose of "hitchhiking" or for any other purpose

NOTE:730 CMR is only applicable on the turnpike. When off the turnpike, hitchhiking is not always illegal

General Laws of Massachusetts - Chapter 81A the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority and the Metropolitan Highway System. - Section 1 Massachusetts Turnpike Authority; constitution as public instrumentality "...Whoever, for the purpose of soliciting a ride on the turnpike or the metropolitan highway system, displays a sign, signals a moving vehicle, causes the stopping of a vehicle or stands on property of the authority in view of a ramp or roadway of the turnpike may be arrested without a warrant and shall be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars..."

Basically they really, really don't want you on the turnpike.

Federal Districts

Note:All land regulated by the National Park service prohibits hitchhiking under the Code of Federal Regulations Title 36 section 4.31: Hitchhiking or soliciting transportation is prohibited except in designated areas and under conditions established by the superintendent.

  • Cape Cod National Seashore

4.31 has not been amended here, so hitchhiking is prohibited.

Experiences

I actually hitched a ride inside boston itself. Actually we were in Somerville, or some suburb right next to downtown. It was just a joke we had as we were waiting for the bus, why not hitch a ride back to downtown. Imagine our surprise! The people who stopped were Puerto Rican, no English, but my friend was Mexican. I would imagine however that the Boston area is quite bad for hitching.

I hitched through Massachusetts briefly in 2012 and again in 2013. I was picked up quickly each time I was dropped off. Once I stood right on the interstate in view of the toll booth (obviously not smart) and was quickly picked up before a cop saw me. This is a friendly state. Thewindandrain (talk) 02:18, 30 October 2013 (CET)

Was told near Newton that 720.6 cmr prohibits hitchhiking in the entire state, was unable to view this law online. --Looks like 720 CMR 9.09 (6) http://www.mass.gov/courts/docs/lawlib/700-799cmr/720cmr9.pdf


See definition of roadway in this page. Hitchhiking is legal on the shoulder. Thewindandrain (talk) 19:15, 9 May 2015 (CEST)

Western part of the state is easy as HECK. Maybe some of the nicest hitching one can do is in the Berkshires. I liked it so much I have made Northampton my home base! The bus system (PVTA and FRTA) runs the entire length of the state. If stuck in Springfield, which is notorious, take the PVTA north to Holyoke, then to Northampton, and then (if west, north, or southbound) to Williamsburg on the R41 bus. From Rt 9, to Pittsfield, you're in a great spot. Pittsfield is an easy jumping off point for Albany to the west, North Adams and Vermont to the north, and Great Barrington, CT, and NYC to the south (though if NYC-bound, the Conz st. southbound onramp on I-91 in Northampton is also sometimes a straight-shot hitch). If eastbound to Boston and Maine from the Pioneer Valley, take PVTA to Northampton and switch to the FRTA to Greenfield (m-f only). In Greenfield, get on route 2 east - you'll make it to Boston in a day or less. Eastern MA is a different story. Rich assholes abound, as does, correspondingly, buck-wild ghetto zones. The entire zone inside the 495 was rough to me every time I hitched there. To be perfectly honest, the best strategy for getting out of Boston westbound seems to be buying a polo shirt and a $10 ticket on the commuter rail to Littleton on rt 2. I was stuck for ages in the winter in Lexington, attempting to walk from Alewife station on rt 2 (which is illegal there). The other good strategy is to get to Lowell and hit the railyard there. - Hillbilly Castro

I spent a few days hitching through West Mass summer 2017. Extremely easy, I rarely had to wait more than 5 minutes for rides, and people were friendly and excited about the region. Many people assumed I was an AT hiker. The whole area is a hidden gem. - wallpaper

Cities


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