Where Did All the Hitch-Hikers Go?
Yeah, I know, they’re not actually “all gone”. But really, there aren’t really all that many out there these days. So, where did they go?
The reason for asking this is that I met a woman (while hitch-hiking) who was talking about the hitch-hiker culture of the 60′s and 70′s. According to her it was much more of a social movement than just about traveling. So, if it was sort of a social movement, it’s not enough to ask why the hitch-hikers disappeared, we also have to ask where this social movement went, or did that disappear aswell?
Let’s start with the easy question. Why did the hitch-hikers disappear. I would say that it’s probably mainly due to two or possibly three changes. First we have the spread of the freeways, where you’re not allowed to stop you can, nor to hitch-hike in the first place. That made longer distance hitch-hiking a real pain. Next we have the cars which became more easily accessible, possibly in combination with better public transport, which reduced the need for hitch-hiking. A third explanation could possibly be the mental barrier of fear against picking up strangers, providing that is a factor that’s changed over time. This is a rather common explanation, but I’m skeptical about it. I think most people have always been negative towards picking up strangers and this argument could just as easy be just another “things were better in the past” kind of argument. My opinion is that peoples fear of strangers isn’t really getting stronger over time; more like the other way around.
Ok, to the point already! Where did the social movement go? Well, when one technology fails a social movement, maybe they find other paths. Being pushed away by the freeways and laws they might well have found new ways on the Internet. Only this time it’s not about traveling, it’s about a place to sleep. (Well, sometimes the hitch-hiking turned out the same way I hear.) Breaking against the commersialistic approach of hotels, motels and hostels, they found something revolutionizing. Please join us at couchsurfing.com!
