That Ol’ Thumb(lrb.co.uk)
lrb.co.uk
That Ol’ Thumb
https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v44/n12/mike-jay/that-ol-thumb
7 comments
I dont have extensive hitchhiking experience—I missed that era when it was more common (b. 1998)—but all of those experiences have been out of necessity rather than pleasure. Thumbing for rides has been an extremely useful tool to fall back on when I find myself in tough situations, but it’s hard to imagine relying on hitchhiking in the US for anything other than a last resort.
That said, all of my experiences with drivers have been positive so far. It helps that I always have an easily comprehendible problem to relate to the drivers; I don’t have to explain why I am thumbing for a ride beyond that.
The first time I dabbled was when my car broke down on a rural interstate highway around 2016. I was a newly-licensed driver, and at the time I didn’t have a cell phone. I thumbed for a short while on the shoulder, and a truck driver gave me a lift to the next town where I was able to sort things out.
I was highly conscious of the whole spectacle, and yeah, given the combo of single teenage white girl and car in disrepair it did not take long for someone to stop. I was really fearful of predators, but I couldn’t see any way of resolving that situation that didn’t involve getting into the car of a stranger.
I’ve since hitchhiked in other situations where I didn’t have car issues, but always out of necessity. I feel much safer when I’m not alone on the road, of course. I’d like to try hitchhiking for pleasure at some point, but it seems the US is just not the place to do that.
That said, all of my experiences with drivers have been positive so far. It helps that I always have an easily comprehendible problem to relate to the drivers; I don’t have to explain why I am thumbing for a ride beyond that.
The first time I dabbled was when my car broke down on a rural interstate highway around 2016. I was a newly-licensed driver, and at the time I didn’t have a cell phone. I thumbed for a short while on the shoulder, and a truck driver gave me a lift to the next town where I was able to sort things out.
I was highly conscious of the whole spectacle, and yeah, given the combo of single teenage white girl and car in disrepair it did not take long for someone to stop. I was really fearful of predators, but I couldn’t see any way of resolving that situation that didn’t involve getting into the car of a stranger.
I’ve since hitchhiked in other situations where I didn’t have car issues, but always out of necessity. I feel much safer when I’m not alone on the road, of course. I’d like to try hitchhiking for pleasure at some point, but it seems the US is just not the place to do that.
In the 1970s, I did a 2,000 mile hitchhike in U.S. & Canada, then a year or two later, 2 months hitching around continental Europe (including a few train and boat segments). I even successfully re-entered the U.S. from Canada without any identification at all (it was stolen along with my wallet in Windsor) as a passenger/hitcher.
On the other hand, I've driven 15K or more miles in U.S. road trips in the last 15 years, can't remember the last time I saw a hitcher.
Then, there was that one time in the 1990s that I was just getting on the eastbound Bay Bridge (S.F. -> Oakland) on my homeward commute and an attractive young woman was hitching, an extremely uncommon event. Having only a few seconds to decide I did not stop, but I bet she didn't have to wait long.
I'm glad I did it when I did, but the whole concept of getting in a metal cage traveling at potentially lethal speeds with a complete stranger would scare me off today if I were in a position to even consider it. Then, I suppose the internet enables people to share long-distance car trips more easily than ever in the past, with less risk.
On the other hand, I've driven 15K or more miles in U.S. road trips in the last 15 years, can't remember the last time I saw a hitcher.
Then, there was that one time in the 1990s that I was just getting on the eastbound Bay Bridge (S.F. -> Oakland) on my homeward commute and an attractive young woman was hitching, an extremely uncommon event. Having only a few seconds to decide I did not stop, but I bet she didn't have to wait long.
I'm glad I did it when I did, but the whole concept of getting in a metal cage traveling at potentially lethal speeds with a complete stranger would scare me off today if I were in a position to even consider it. Then, I suppose the internet enables people to share long-distance car trips more easily than ever in the past, with less risk.
About 25 years ago I recall a conversation with someone recounting his own - ongoing - hitchhiking around the UK, to get to and from university as well as travel. Some unsolicited bluntness too, saying I might have trouble, not being white.
I never did try hitchhiking.
I never did try hitchhiking.
> might have trouble, not being white
It's amazing how unconcious the safety of white skin is, even for hitchhiking.
It's amazing how unconcious the safety of white skin is, even for hitchhiking.
I couldn't read the article because of the site's design, but hitchhiking is alive and well in the U.S., if not as popular as in the heyday.
I have done it recently, both before and after covid, and I can't talk it up enough in terms of meeting amazing, open-minded people.
I have done it recently, both before and after covid, and I can't talk it up enough in terms of meeting amazing, open-minded people.
Archived: https://archive.ph/3ReuV
I think it says a lot about perception and reality. The reality is, it's probably much safer now than it was before, but people perceive more danger. It's the same with cities I've been in, which are idyllic if you just put down the social media and travel around, but people are bizarrely freaking out.