Hitchhiking facts for kids

A hitchhiker in Luxembourg in 1977.

Hitchhiking is a way to travel by getting free rides from people driving cars or lorries. A person who hitchhikes is called a hitchhiker. They usually stand by the side of a road. They might hold their thumb up in the air. This is a sign to drivers that they are looking for a ride to another place.

Hitchhiking was very common in Europe in the 1970s. However, it became less popular over time. This was mainly due to safety concerns. It can be hard to know if a driver is safe. Because of these worries, hitchhiking is now illegal or restricted in many countries and parts of the United States.

Modern Hitchhiking

Hitchhiking Benches

Since the mid-2010s, some local areas in Germany have started to support hitchhiking. This idea has also spread to Austria and parts of Belgium where German is spoken. The main goals are to help people get around and to protect the environment.

These areas provide special places for people to wait for rides. They are often called Mitfahrbänke (which means "ride-sharing benches" in German). These benches help people without cars, like young or older people. They make it easier to travel in places where public transport is not very good. This also helps connect local communities. It is also an environmentally friendly way to travel.

How Hitchhiking Benches Work

Mitfahrbänke are usually brightly colored. They are placed at the edge of a village or town. Sometimes, they are at a bus stop where cars can safely pull over. Some benches even have large signs. These signs can be folded out or slid out. They let hitchhikers clearly show where they want to go. This makes it easier for drivers to know if they can help. Some of these benches have been set up with help from the EU's LEADER programme. This program helps with rural local development.

Images for kids

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  Continental hitchhiking in Russia.

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  A man and woman hitchhiking near Vicksburg, Mississippi in 1936, photograph by Walker Evans.

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  A typical hitchhiker's gesture.

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  A Mitfahrbank with destination signs in Flensburg.

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  Two men tramping in Jerusalem.

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  Hitchhiking (called liften) is legal in the Netherlands. This sign suggests a good place to get a lift.

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  A "slug line" of passengers waiting for rides in the US.

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  Two WPA workers hitchhiking in California, circa 1939.

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  Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable attempt to hitchhike in It Happened One Night.