2024 President’s Workshop – Hitchhiking

Hitchhiking (also known as thumbing, autostop or hitching) is a means of transportation that is gained by
asking individuals, usually strangers, for a ride in their car or other vehicle. The ride is usually, but not always, free.

Hitchhikers use a variety of signals to indicate they need a ride. Indicators can be physical gestures or displays including written signs. The physical gestures (e.g., hand signals), hitchhikers use differ around the world. In some African countries, the hitchhiker’s hand is held with the palm facing upwards. In most of Europe, North America, South America and Australia, most hitchhikers stand with their back facing the direction of travel. The hitchhiker typically extends their arm towards the road with the thumb of the closed hand pointing upward or in the direction of vehicle travel.

Legal Status

Hitchhiking is a historically common (autonomous) practice worldwide and hence there are very few places in the world where laws exist to restrict it.

Community

In recent years, hitchhikers have started efforts to strengthen their community. Examples include the annual Hitchgathering, an event organised by hitchhikers, for hitchhikers, and websites such as hitchwiki, which are platforms for hitchhikers to share tips and provide a way of looking up good hitchhiking spots.

Quotes found online for possible inspiration:

I was hitchhiking the other day and a hearse stopped. I said, “No thanks, I`m not going that far.”

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre hitchhiker really made people never want to hitchhike again – the hitcher, the show. Hitchhiking is always vaguely sexual.

The one thing I miss is hitchhiking. It’s not that I consider it a great sport, but it was my way of seeing the country.

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The Workshop

Exercise 1: You’re stranded on a roadside, location—anywhere. You’re carrying a backpack. Describe what contents are in there. Also, you have a sign with the destination where you’d like to go. Write about these two objects. Spend 15 minutes on this.

Exercise 2: Imagine yourself as the person picking a hitchhiker(s) up. Describe the scene/emotions. What made you stop to pick them up, or did you drive past? Spend 15 minutes on this.

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Paul Simpkins – March 2024