Hitchhiking is illegal like jaywalking or smoking weed - most people don't care enough to call the cops on you, and as long as you aren't a shithead to the cops they'll make you leave but let you off with a warning.
Find a highway on ramp with a wide shoulder right after a stoplight, somewhere lots of cars are moving slowly through so they can safely pull over to talk with you. Hitchhiking is really just a numbers game: you only need one car to pick you up, so don't care about all the ones that drive past. That can be harder than you think if it's blistering hot and you've been out there for hours. Tough it out though because every single car is seeing you for the first time, and nobody wants to drive with the angry stranger dressed all in black carrying a gun. Wear bright clothes, always stand up, smile, wave. Hell, do a little dance whenever a car honks at you - anything that makes you look friendly (aka safe to pick up)! Back in 2017 USA it took me about an hour to catch a ride as a young man. Having a friend with you, especially a girl, makes you look more trustworthy, but the only guy who ever asked to hitchhike with me was a washed up drunk. Remember that you can say No, you're not obliged to get in anyone's car just because they stopped for you. Also remember though that the type of people who pick up hitchhikers are more likely to be fun and interesting than average! Hitchhikers pay in good conversation, and you'll get lots of good stories to tell by doing it, but talking about them is always good too.
>>2759258Agree with all of these, but I wouldn't open their door until after talking to them through an open window. If you use a sign make sure it's large enough to be legible to cars sitting at the closest red light - the more time they have to consider picking you up the better. Under no circumstances write some weirdo shit like "Anywhere But Here" or "West." Only major cities if it's hundreds of miles.
