Wisconsin

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Wisconsin is a state of the United States of America. It is a difficult state to hitchhike in for several reasons. People are wary to pick anyone up, and the way the freeway entrances are set up makes it difficult to catch traffic. It's located in the north-central U.S, and its capital is Madison, while its largest city is Milwaukee. Wisconsin can be very cold in the winter, so clothes that would keep you warm are recommended.

It's smart to use truck stops and on ramps to hitch.

Law

346.29 When standing or loitering in roadway* or highway prohibited.

(1) No person shall be on a roadway* for the purpose of soliciting a ride from the operator of any vehicle other than a public passenger vehicle.

346.02 Applicability of chapter.

(8) Applicability to pedestrian ways
(a) All of the applicable provisions of this chapter pertaining to highways, streets, alleys, roadways*, and sidewalks also apply to pedestrian ways. A pedestrian way means a walk designated for the use of pedestrian travel

Important Note This means that hitchhiking from sidewalks is illegal!

*CHAPTER 340 VEHICLES — GENERAL PROVISIONS 340.01 Words and phrases defined. (54) "Roadway" means that portion of a highway between the regularly established curb lines or that portion which is improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, excluding the berm or shoulder.

Major Cities

Madison
Milwaukee
La Crosse
Oshkosh
Green Bay
Eau Claire
Wausau

Experiences

The first time I hitched in Wisconsin i had a few 6+ hours waits. My second time around two years later my wait times were much shorter. A few times I got picked up within 3 minutes. This state is hit or miss.Thewindandrain 20:11, 13 September 2012 (CEST)

We got rides like crazy, never waited more than half an hour for a ride. Once or twice we had more than one person stop at a time and had to turn one of them away. Also had one ride pull over as the last one before was pulling away. I'm proud of my home state, they love hitch hikers! Hwy 12 was where we did the most hitching, between Madison and Lake Geneva. So if you're anywhere near there I wouldn't even bother owning a car. Just hitch to work or school! You can't walk on the interstates unfortunately, but hitching is legal from the on-ramps if you stand before the "no pedestrians" sign. -Dizzy

"I think one's experience really depends on where you're trying to hitch. For example, the country roads in southern Wisconsin (say, between Dodgeville and LaCrosse, along Hwy 61 and such) were sweet, quick rides with good-hearted, diverse folk. I asked traveling friends and Milwaukee punx about hitching west from Milwaukee to Madison, and heard 1) it's doable if you go the Brookfield Park 'n' Ride in the Milwaukee burbs, but that's miles of walking from the nearest transit stop, and 2) it's a pain in the ass, generally not done if you got $ for Megabus or rideshare. If you end up in LaCrosse, cross the river to Minnesota and the hitching becomes easier." - Shannon

"I used to travel regionally by hitch. I travelled from Wausau to Bayfield with no problem with a little bit of patience and it only took me a half of the day. The Tomahawk area police from (a different hitching experience at night time) said that I can't hitch on the four-laned highway (I-51) but in his mindset that he didn't really care but seek concern for my safety like a real police officer. On the other hand, I have tried hitching from Sheboygan to Milwaukee. Belgium law enforcement told me to get off the ramp and didn't care about the factual basis of the law. I walked to Port Washington. YAY! I was this close to get off the freeway ramp by a potential driver in Port Washington and I WAS FREEZING! The policeman came in a nick of second to ruin my day and told me to take a cab (with no money). The reality of taking a cab in Ozaukee County is...you have to book 24 hours for one. You have to love the irony. The point is it varies county by county with the law enforcements. They're police officers, not lawyers. Try not to hitch in deep back roads with 3 cars in an hour traffic. :)" Alpha


"My hitchhiking experience in Wisconsin is limited, but may be of use. I have hitchhiked several times from Superior (just south of Duluth, MN) to Rice Lake (about an hour north of Eau Claire), and back. I stuck to highway 53, and most of the way there, until you hit somewhere around Trego, you can walk on the highway. I have traveled this stretch both by myself and with a female companion. I find that going north, the on-ramps will grant you decent rides, especially in the morning. Going south, I just walk along the highway until someone stops. It usually only takes about 3 rides to make the 100-mile stretch, and the people are relatively friendly and talktative. (Warning to vegans/vegetarians: Wisconsin folk LOVE deer hunting. Be aware that many of the people that pick you up may be hunters and fishers and will love to talk about it to you.) Overall, not too bad of an experience in Northern Wisconsin." -Ned

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