Hitch-hiking has left the traveling arena simply because it relies on other drivers to find it in their kind hearts to help those of us less fortunate to afford the high cost of traveling. As much as the new talk of ecology problems facing the planet, there should be a movement of people doing more collective traveling.
Even if the only way of cutting down greenhouse emissions, is to eliminate the use of cars, and other transportation means that burn large amounts of gas.
I found that although there is talk about this being dangerous; disagree. There are some important rules to follow though when traveling in such a manner.
Rule 1: Wear colors that are bright and easily seen. Wearing black or dark clothing is a big no -no in hitching because it psychologically tells drivers that you don't want to be seen.
Rule 2: You should only hitch from places where vehicles have a space to stop. It is a highway law that you should not obstruct traffic. The best place to hitch is on outskirt places of cities going the direction you want to go at gas stations. It is so much easier to talk to someone at a gas station and its easier for you to decide who you would consider going with.
Rule 3: Don't hitch with people you think look strange or that you get a strange sense from. Hitching is not dangerous as long as you are aware of the type of person you choose to go with.
Rule 4: Hitch only in the day time. Under no circumstances should you attempt to hitch when the light of the sun goes down.
Rule 5: Talk to people, especially when you are at gas stations, somebody might be going your way or they might even bump into somebody they know who is going your way. Always keep a smile on your face even if you have been getting turned down by a lot of people for a long period of time.
Rule 6: Stay cool and stay patient. Depending on what country you are in, you may have to wait a while before somebody takes you to the next town.
Rule 7: Make sure that when somebody drops you off at a place that it is not on the highway and that it is a rest stop or a place that is easy for others to stop at.
Traveling is fun if you too are fun and have a sense of order and understanding of how this order works for you. If you are respectable and talk respectably with others then hitching can even be a form of trading communication on a one to one basis, with members of the public. If we indeed wish to save our planet somebody has to start to compromise their comforts so that we might all enjoy the comfort of freedom.
Swiss Unselfish Hitch-Takers www.travelpower.blogspot.com from Jack Tupac Pennington on Vimeo.
