HOW TO HITCH-HIKE AROUND EUROPE

Hitch-hiking is a great way to travel. It's cheap, you get to meet people and you can actually get from one place to the other without spending any money. You can hop out anywhere along the route and who knows what you might discover. Of course, if you have a travel schedule and have to be somewhere at a specific time or date, you might want to choose another form of transportation.

Hitch-hiking isn't the safest means of transportation but if you're careful and follow the rules, you can survive nicely. Hitch-hiking in Europe is a lot safer than hitch-hiking in the United States because more Europeans hitch-hike than Americans and more European drivers are comfortable picking up hitch-hikers than American drivers. Although hitch-hiking is more hazardous than train travel, you have a greater chance of being attacked walking the streets of a big city in the U.S. than  hitching in Europe. The most dangerous thing about hitch-hiking is the possibility of being involved in a car accident or being hit by a car if you stand too close to the side of the road. You run the risk of a car accident every time you get in a car wherever you are, although this is multiplied when you are hitching because you don't know the driver or their driving skills and a stranger might have been drinking. Despite the perceived danger, there are plenty of ways to minimize your risk.

Here's some tips from the professional thumb-raisers who have traveled all over Europe.

It's important to choose a good spot to hitch-hike. If you are leaving a big city, take a bus or train to the outskirts of town so you can get to a road leading away from the town. Choose a spot with plenty of room for the driver to safely stop and see you from a distance so they can size you up and decide if they want to stop or not. Find a spot where traffic isn't moving too fast.

When you get out of a ride, get out long before you enter a large town. Service station stops are good because you can approach drivers as they're returning to their cars, there are usually restaurants, toilets and there are safe spots to stand.

Don't hitch-hike on motorways (expressways, autobahns, autoroutes or whatever), stick to the entrance ramps and service areas. Not only is hitching on motorways dangerous, it is difficult for cars to safely stop and in most countries it is illegal.

         

A lot of hitchers debate whether to use signs or not. Some argue that drivers won't stop if they don't know where you want to go, while others will stop if they know where you're going. There have been no studies, so it's a toss up. One guy suggested you carry a sign that says "please" in the local language or "I don't bite" or "I wash and go to church!"

Most of your rides will come from solo travelers like yourself who are going somewhere and who have hitch-hiked themselves and are repaying the favor. Truck drivers are a good source of a ride. Different people have different reasons for picking you up.

Try and look like you're a normal person..and clean. If you're hitch-hiking in a business suit with shirt and tie and carrying a briefcase, drivers might think you're either a weirdo or a business person who's car has broken down. It's toss up whether they'll pick you up or not. If you're wearing jeans, look decent, don't have too much hair hanging around your face and carrying a reasonable-size backpack, you look like the average hitch-hiker and not much of a threat. Don't wear sunglasses, smile and travel light. The general rule is: the lighter the load, the quicker the ride.

When a car stops ask the driver where he's going. A lot of Europeans speak English and you'll probably get an answer of some sort. If they don't speak English and they're pointed in the direction you want to go, you can hop in. If you don't like the looks of the driver or there are a bunch of questionable-looking people in the car, smile, step back and refuse the ride.

Never smoke in someone else's car unless they're smoking. Carry an International Driver's License. If it's a long ride, you can volunteer to drive. Some people stop because they're going a long way and they want the company or someone to share the driving.        

There are special rules for single females. It's best if you travel with another person (male or female) so you're perceived as a couple and if there is a problem, there's someone there to help. Don't feel that you have to accept a lift just because the person stopped. You're under no obligation, so if it doesn't feel right, don't get in. If the driver looks like they have been drinking, step back, smile and shake your head "no". Don't let the driver put your backpack in the trunk of the car. Try and keep all your stuff with you, even when you stop for food and gas.

There are such things as ride sharing agencies, a good alternative to taking pot luck on the road. These agencies act as a matchmaker between drivers and riders and the drivers explain how much they want or if the ride is free. Check out www.hitchhikers.org. This is a free service which links travelers to drivers. Drivers with empty spaces in their cars and in need of some company post dates and destinations and you can contact them by e-mail or telephone if you know where you're going and when. Listings are in eight languages and they post how much they want for the privilege of riding with them if there is a price. Some postings say the ride is free. Check http://www.rideseek.net. You can enter a starting point and a destination and they'll tell you if there are any rides available. There's a list of ride sharing agencies in several European countries (along with their telephone numbers) at http://www.bugeurope.com/transport/hitch1.html.