Difference between revisions of "Highway"

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'''Highways''' are essential for [[hitchhiking]] longer distances.
 
'''Highways''' are essential for [[hitchhiking]] longer distances.
  
If you need to travel over long destinations, taking the highway may help a lot, and in some place is almost unavoidable. Most highway entrances are bad spots, and many are dangerous. A good way to "hitchhike" on highway is to practice "station hopping": you only stops in gas stations. Gas stations (or rest areas, often the same) are the best spot ever, because you can go directly talk to people (show them you are nice and smile) and the car is totally stopped. Enjoy.
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If you need to travel over long distances, taking the highway will most likely shorten your travel time, and in some places highway hitchhiking might be even inevitable. This can be done either by thumbing at [[on-ramp]]s (entrances) to the highways, or by a practice of hopping from one [[petrol station hitchhiking|petrol station]] (or [[rest area|service area]] in general) to another. The latter one is usually rather recommended, since the first one can be unpleasant, expose you to the dangers of over-speeding drivers, and appear being a hopeless position during the [[hitchhiking at night|night hitchhiking]]; sometimes [[laws|legality]] issues can be brought up if you hitchhike after the sign that marks the beginning of the motorway; however, waiting times, compared to waiting times at the exit of a highway rest area (but not to a practice of asking a driver directly), can arguably be lower.
  
Do realise that in most developed countries, hitchhiking directly on the highway is forbidden! In rare occasions however, you might be forced to. Keep in mind that it is very unsafe for drivers to stop on the highway, and that your own [[safety]] is also in danger. The [[police]] might force you to leave the area, but in some cases they just don't care.
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So, the best choice, many hitchers would agree, is to hop from one rest area to another where one can ask for a ride talking to people directly while they refuel their cars, of wandering around the area. Some hitchers might find it difficult because it requires some ability of being brave and firm when directly contacting an unknown person; some other travelers appear to love this way of hitchhiking probably because it helps to develop a closer contact with a person while socializing (and because it shortens waiting times, of course).
  
Exceptions:
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In most Western countries thumbing directly on the highway is forbidden. In rare occasions, however, you might be forced to. Keep in mind then that it is very unsafe for the driver to stop on a highway, and that your own [[hitchhiker's safety|safety]] is also in danger. The [[police]] might force you to leave the area (or even fine you) although in some very rare cases they might have better things to do and leave you alone.
* In the US state of [[Oregon]] it's allowed to hitchhike on the highway.
 
  
{{stub}}
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Exceptions (in following locations to stand on a highway is not a crime):
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* most highways in [[Eastern Europe]] and in countries of former Soviet Union (like [[Lithuania]], [[Latvia]], etc.)
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* [[China]]
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* [[Oregon]], [[United States of America|US]]
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* [[Morocco]] and [[Ireland]] tolerate hitchhiking on motorways ''to a certain degree''. The risk is yours. ([[User:Grégoire|Grégoire]] was once arrested/offered a lift out of the highway by the Irish police close to Dublin but they were nice to him.)
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* ''<small>add more?</small>''
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===Links===
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[http://motorways-exitlists.com Motorways - Exit Lists]
  
 
[[Category:General info]]
 
[[Category:General info]]
 
[[Category:Motorways]]
 
[[Category:Motorways]]
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[[de:Autobahn]]

Latest revision as of 17:34, 18 October 2011

Highways are essential for hitchhiking longer distances.

If you need to travel over long distances, taking the highway will most likely shorten your travel time, and in some places highway hitchhiking might be even inevitable. This can be done either by thumbing at on-ramps (entrances) to the highways, or by a practice of hopping from one petrol station (or service area in general) to another. The latter one is usually rather recommended, since the first one can be unpleasant, expose you to the dangers of over-speeding drivers, and appear being a hopeless position during the night hitchhiking; sometimes legality issues can be brought up if you hitchhike after the sign that marks the beginning of the motorway; however, waiting times, compared to waiting times at the exit of a highway rest area (but not to a practice of asking a driver directly), can arguably be lower.

So, the best choice, many hitchers would agree, is to hop from one rest area to another where one can ask for a ride talking to people directly while they refuel their cars, of wandering around the area. Some hitchers might find it difficult because it requires some ability of being brave and firm when directly contacting an unknown person; some other travelers appear to love this way of hitchhiking probably because it helps to develop a closer contact with a person while socializing (and because it shortens waiting times, of course).

In most Western countries thumbing directly on the highway is forbidden. In rare occasions, however, you might be forced to. Keep in mind then that it is very unsafe for the driver to stop on a highway, and that your own safety is also in danger. The police might force you to leave the area (or even fine you) although in some very rare cases they might have better things to do and leave you alone.

Exceptions (in following locations to stand on a highway is not a crime):

  • most highways in Eastern Europe and in countries of former Soviet Union (like Lithuania, Latvia, etc.)
  • China
  • Oregon, US
  • Morocco and Ireland tolerate hitchhiking on motorways to a certain degree. The risk is yours. (Grégoire was once arrested/offered a lift out of the highway by the Irish police close to Dublin but they were nice to him.)
  • add more?

Links

Motorways - Exit Lists