View source for How to find a good spot

More and more technically advanced gadgets come at hand for hitchhikers. Hitchhike from a [[Liftershalte]] or find the right spot, with comments from other users, on [[Hitchwiki:About|Hitchwiki]]. But what to do when there is no internet and no recommendation for a good starting place?

=== What is a good spot? ===

Rule of thumb: The faster the traffic is, the more space to stop (safely) is needed.

Criteria for the perfect "good spot":
* One lane of traffic
* Traffic must not be too fast
* The amount of cars driving by must not be too high nor too low
* The hitchhiker must be visible from a long distance
* The spot must allow the driver to pull over safely
* There is protection from the weather (this is not essential but definitely makes for a perfect spot). 

see [[Where to hitchhike]].

=== How to find a good spot? ===
* Maps - check out [http://maps.google.com Google Maps] or the city map with motorway plan for a good spot to start. Ideally it is a petrol station or a tollgate, but any place with enough space and slow traffic will do. Using Google Maps satellite and street views, you can explore the accessibility of a spot realistically without being there. 

* Ask people - Most people living in a town will be able to tell you how to get out of town. They can also tell you where it will be busy and why nobody takes the road you would take.

* Follow the road - Follow the the traffic signs that lead out of the city. 

* Listen to your intuition - When you do not get any responses from people driving pass, you start to have a bad feeling, then do something. Ask people if this the right way and they will tell you a better spot.

* Take public transport or a taxi - Sometime it is just not worth waiting half an hour or an hour to get 5 miles down the road. Just take public transport or a taxi and you save yourself a lot of hassle ([[hitchhiking in a bad mood]]). There are many sites on the net where you can find public transport schedules.

[[Category:Practical info]]

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