Hitchhiking —It’s BACK!

Today’s Republican included this story about promoting hitchhiking in the Pioneer Valley. It does make sense to share our big cars when we drive alone to the store. In Chile we were told that index and middle finger out means you will pay someone to pick you up and give you a ride; traditional thumb up means you want a free lift.

Molly O’Hale, a proponent of the plan, said both drivers and pedestrians who participate would fill out an application that includes questions about their residential and driving status and criminal background. Those who pass the screening process would be given placards indicating that they are a part of the program…I guess Safe would be another way to put it.

Drivers would display their placards somewhere on a window of their vehicle. Hitch hikers would hold theirs up at designated stop sites. The placards would have the photo IDs and numbers which would be registered in a database so that their authenticity could be verified. Fifty people have so far showed up for meetings in support of the idea.

“It’s ride sharing,” said Russ Sienkiewicz, Chief, “we’re talking about reducing the number of cars on the road. It will probably serve that part of the population without cars.”

Francis Crowe, famous local activist, believes it will enhance a sense of community…”In the post carbon world, we’re going to have to depend on one another,” she said.