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Where to hitchhike

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A good '''hitchhiking spot''' makes hitchhiking safer and easier. Finding a good spot might be tricky, and sometimes knowing the area is an advantage. If you know your route, you might check the best places on this wiki or from the [[multimedia|internet]], including [http://maps.google.com Google Maps], before heading to the road.
There are some generic hitchhiking places, like petrol stations, bus stops etc. This page attempts to provide an understanding about where you should hitchhike.
: ''See also the article on [[picking up hitchhikers|how to pick up hitchhikers]].''
== Bus stops ==
* In poorer countries those who stop might want money for the ride.
== [[Petrol stationhitchhiking|Petrol stations]]s ==
[[File:Hitchmonk.jpg|thumb|right|400px|A monk from the Holy Hitch-hiking Order near Arles, [[France]].]]
Petrol stations are good places to ask for a ride, especially while hitchhiking along a motorway.
On ramps to freeways and interstates are prime realty as long as the driver has room to pull over. A good spot to stand usually is beside the ''no pedestrians'' sign.
Make sure that there is lots of room for a car to pull over '''safely''' and still allow other cars to pass. A shoulder large enough to safely park a truck is best. It is becoming easier to locate a safe spot by looking at [http://maps.google.com/ Google Maps] or Google Earth before you depart. Google Maps Streetview can be especially useful, in locations where it is available.
In many places in the United States, on ramps are the '''only''' legal option for places to thumb. This includes the entire state of Tennessee. In most countries in Europe you can legally hitch on a slip-road leading onto the motorway, '''as long as you stand in front of the motorway sign.'''
== Toll Booths / [[Péage]]s==
In some countries the motorways or a part of them are toll roads, so the places where drivers stop to pay might be very good spots to get a ride, since all the traffic going your direction can see you. Other type of toll booths is only stopping the traffic joining/leaving the motorway on one particular exit, there the traffic will be much more weak.
=== Pros ===
Nine times out of ten you can get a ride anywhere there is a parking lot;(i.e. park and ride).
== [[Traffic light hitchhiking|Traffic lights]] ==
Traffic light are pretty good spots. All the cars are standing still so you can easily make eye contact with the drivers and signal you want a ride.
Sometimes it's harder for cars to pull over, especially if there is a lot of traffic.
Try to get an idea of where cars might be able to pull over safely. Traffic lights right before a highway entrance, which often have a large space on the side of the road, can be good spots as they combine the time drivers spend at the lights with the safety of a large space to stop for you. If you're unfamiliar with the area, try to find a place like this using [http://maps.google.com Google Maps] or Google Earth before you depart.
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