Cześć wam
Hi there. My name is Frank and I live in the Netherlands.
Why
Hitchhiking is my favourite way of travelling, which I practice when I have time: during weekends and in holidays. It is a very interesting way to be in touch with people and also a more environmentally aware and economic way of travelling fast than going in your own vehicle or by public transport. Anyway as far as travelling is concerned I also enjoy to move myself on foot, on bike, on ice-skate, by public transport and only occasionally in a Citroen AX.
It can take a while before you know how to hitchhike fast and efficient and also experienced hitchhikers sometimes need patience. In my own country I rarely need more than twenty minutes to find a driver when I am in a good or reasonable hitchhiking environment. I started hitchhiking actively in spring 2003. Before that I hitchhiked on occasion, for example to go back to the starting point of a hiking trip or to get back to a camping. The first experience was in the summer of 1993, when my father in a moment decided to hitchhike with me when we were walking in the French Alps. That way we managed to get up very high on the mountain. Otherwise we would not have succeeded in doing that.
Inspiring music
In the meantime, I've started to link some pieces of popular music to this way of travel. I feel that these songs breath in their way spirit of hitchhiking. If you like, take a look at this listing, and feel happy to hear and see those pieces by You tube-technology. Links checked September 15, 2009.
The Animals - House of the rising sun (UK, 1964)
Robert Johnson - Walking Blues (USA, 1936)
Kraftwerk - Trans Europe Express (D, 1977)
Karen Stanek - Jedziemy autostopem (PL, 1964)
City to City - The road ahead (miles of the unknown) (NL, 1999)
Vanity Fare - Hitchin' a ride (USA, 1969)
Amy Mc Donald - This is the life (Scotland, 2007)
Ronan Keating feat. Yusuf Islam - Father and son (Ireland, 2004)
One Republic feat. Timabaland - Apologize (USA, 2007)
Moby - Lift me up (USA, 2005)
Phil Collins - Can’t stop loving you (UK, 2002)
Kraftwerk - Autobahn (D, 1974)
The Crickets - I fought the law (USA, 1959)
Boudewijn de Groot - Jimmy (NL, 1973)
Muddy Waters - Mannish boy (USA, 1955)
Totals and log
As of January 23, 2010 the total distance covered by hitchhiking amounted to 58,043.8 kilometres, a total of 1060 rides, 17,053 minutes wait (284.2 hr / 11.8 days), average distance 54.8 km and an average wait of 0.29 minutes per kilometre. The full list of journeys can be found by clicking here.
distances per year | As of January 23, 2010 | |||
year | total distance | number of rides | avg distance | avg wait minutes / km |
1993/00/01/02 | 61.0 km | 7 | 8.7 km | 0.52 |
2003 | 2,308.0 km | 50 | 46.2 km | 0.36 |
2004 | 5,734.5 km | 125 | 45.9 km | 0.28 |
2005 | 8,875.0 km | 181 | 49.0 km | 0.29 |
2006 | 10,337.0 km | 186 | 55.6 km | 0.29 |
2007 | 11,918.5 km | 221 | 53.9 km | 0.29 |
2008 | 10,568.5 km | 163 | 64.8 km | 0.30 |
2009 | 8,243.3 km | 127 | 64.9 km | 0.30 |
2010 | 1,058.5 km | 8 | 132.3 km | 0.13 |
total | 59,101.2 km | 1068 | 55.3 km | 0.29 |
The image below presents all the routes that have been used on hitchhiking journeys, except for three comparatively short rides which took place in the east of France, out of the area the image covers. By the darkness of the lines one can see if a route was hitched over once (lighter) or several times (thicker, darker blue). It is easily visible that the density of hitchhiking trips is higher in certain areas and that otherwise many of the longer journeys lead from the Netherlands to Poland, or likewise, often directly through Germany, sometimes through Slovakia, Czech Republic and Austria.
Per country
The last available accurate update of an overview of all distances hitchhiked per country dates from January 1, 2010. Please note that for cross border rides the number of rides acquired in the country in which the ride started was increased by one, while the waiting time for the concerning ride has been proportionally devided over the concerned countries. For example, a ride on January 2, 2006 started in Poland for the first 0.5 km and ended 6.5 km after the border in Lithuania. The number of rides for Poland increased with 1, the number of rides acquired in Lithuania stayed the same (0). The waiting time of 3 minutes has been devided over both countries by ratio of the ride lenght and rounded, resulting in 0 minutes wait for Poland and 3 minutes wait for Lithuania. The applied method is somewhat discussable and I welcome your view on processing international rides into my country overview.
<travelmap countries="nl,de" c2="be,pl" c3="fr,lu,at,sk,cz,lt,ua" c4="gr" width="800" description='Franks hitchological footprint. Red more than 10000 km, yellow 1000 to 10000 km, blue less than 1,000 km. I have not hitchhiked South America (mistake in map).' />
The image below shows the routes hitchhiked in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg (or Benelux). The density of routes is highest in the south of the Netherlands and the east of Belgium. Most hitchhiking trips have started or ended in Maastricht, the most southern city in the Netherlands.
This image gives an impression of all the routes hitchhiked in the bigger region of Maastricht (the Netherlands), with among others around the cities Aachen (Germany) and Liege (Belgium).
Impression of hitchhiking routes in Maastricht and its near vicinity.
Close after the Netherlands most of the distance was done in Germany. Hitchhiking here took place mostly on transit journeys from the Netherlands towards East-Germany and towards Poland. In central Germany only three main traffic corridors have been used, with an east-west orientation: the A2, the A4 and the A3, from north to south.
Also quite a few kilometres have been done within Poland. Most of the distance was covered in the south and southwest of the country. The Polish A4 is the main east-west traffic corridor in the south of the country, and usually the fastest way over asphalt to reach for any of the mountainous areas in the country. The line from Frankfurt an der Oder towards the Lithuanian border was not done during one journey, but on two journeys. One of the earliest rides took place in the Bialowieza Primeval Forest situated east of Hajnowka, on the border to Belarus.
In the Czech Republic I have hitched during a holiday nearby Sumava National Park, and on a backward journey from the south of Poland. Note a minor mistake in the map, east of Brno I actually hitched over Vyskov.
Routes that we hitchhiked in Sumava National Park (Czech Republic) in July 2005.
It was a lot of fun to hitchhike in Slovakia, and pretty easy as well. If you are heading west then most of the time not much more would be needed than a sign saying "BA", the abbreviation for Bratislava. Getting out of Bratislava direction Wien was not the most easy thing, but a few dramatic expressions helped me out, and later things were sheer FUN!
Going west from Slovakia one goes through Austria. A Slovak racist drove me to Hainburg an der Donau, and most of the way through Austria was done with a very pleasant Germany couple living in Hungary. It is hard to admit that some female drivers are not a pleasure for eye and mind!
The map for France is rather boring; hitchhiking limits itself to three points near the Belgian border and, look well, the very first lift from July 1993 in the French Alps, east of Chambery on the map, and another early ride in Vercors (most western part of the Alps), east of Grenoble.
The map for Ukraine is not exiting either; a couple of lifts east of Ivano-Frankivs'k, and one from the village Chyriv back to the Polish border, 15 km further west. However, these rides were very pleasant indeed.
By my systematics I have not had any lifts in Lithuania, however one ended 6.5 km accross the Polish-Lithuanian border, in Lazdijaj. The lift started in Poland and was therefore added to the number of rides in Poland (where 0.5 km of the ride took place).
Sociology
Under this header I present my freaky statistic on the gender and number of people in the vehicles in which I got lifts. The average number of people in vehicles that served me a lift was 1.47, of which 1.04 men and 0.42 women (January 18, 2009). The 942 vehicles contained already when I, and any co-hitcher, entered the car a total number of 1,387 people, of which 977 men, 402 women and 8 people of unknown gender (young children).
men / women / unknown | rides | % | people in vehicle | people total |
0 / 1 | 78 | 8.3 | 1 | 78 |
0 / 2 | 19 | 2.0 | 2 | 38 |
0 / 3 | 4 | 0.4 | 3 | 12 |
1 / 0 | 512 | 54.4 | 1 | 512 |
1 / 0 / 1 | 4 | 0.4 | 2 | 8 |
1 / 1 | 199 | 21.1 | 2 | 398 |
1 / 1 / 1 | 4 | 0.4 | 3 | 12 |
1 / 2 | 14 | 1.5 | 3 | 42 |
1 / 3 | 3 | 0.3 | 4 | 12 |
1 / 4 | 2 | 0.2 | 5 | 10 |
2 / 0 | 64 | 6.8 | 2 | 128 |
2 / 1 | 9 | 1.0 | 3 | 27 |
2 / 2 | 5 | 0.5 | 4 | 20 |
2 / 3 | 1 | 0.1 | 5 | 5 |
3 / 0 | 18 | 1.9 | 3 | 54 |
3 / 1 | 1 | 0.1 | 4 | 4 |
4 / 0 | 2 | 0.2 | 4 | 8 |
5 / 3 | 1 | 0.1 | 8 | 8 |
7 / 0 | 1 | 0.1 | 8 | 8 |
8 / 0 | 1 | 0.1 | 8 | 8 |
total 977 / 402 / 8 | 904 | 100.0 | 1334 |
Following is a more simplified chart which presents simply the number of people which were already in the cars of my rides. By the way, I do not usually make notes on other individuals of living species already in the cars. Some people had a dog on board.
number already in car | rides | % of rides | people total | % of people |
1 | 590 | 62.6 | 590 | 42.5 |
2 | 286 | 30.4 | 550 | 41.0 |
3 | 49 | 5.2 | 147 | 10.6 |
4 | 13 | 1.2 | 52 | 3.7 |
5 | 3 | 0.3 | 15 | 1.1 |
6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
7 | 1 | 0.1 | 7 | 0.5 |
8 | 2 | 0.2 | 16 | 1.2 |
9-24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
25 or more | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
total | 942 | 100.0 | 1387 | 100.0 |
Rides of over 250 kms
As of January 23, 2010.
from | to | date | distance | country of registration vehicle | with friend | ||
PL | Proskow | NL | Eindhoven | 01.2009 | 1032 km | UK | |
PL | Praty | NL | Eindhoven | 09.2009 | 1019 km | UA | |
PL | Wroclaw | D | Monchengladbach | 01.2007 | 882 km | D | |
CZ | Jilhava | D | Siegburg | 09.2007 | 797 km | TR | |
PL | Swiecko | NL | Lierop | 01.2006 | 700 km | PL | |
B | Blegny | D | Berlin | 05.2007 | 690 km | UK | M |
D | Pomellen | D | Reinhardshain | 09.2006 | 660 km | F | |
NL | Bocholtz | D | Konings Wusterhausen | 06.2006 | 640 km | PL | |
D | Michendorf | NL | Vaals | 05.2007 | 599 km | NL | |
D | Frechen | D | Berlin | 05.2008 | 596 km | F | F |
PL | Jelenia Gora | D | Auetal | 10.2008 | 574 km | D | |
D | Berlin | D | Remscheid | 05.2008 | 563 km | D | MF |
D | Frechen | D | Michendorf | 11.2003 | 540 km | D | |
NL | Bocholtz | D | Hemsdorf | 05.2009 | 507 km | D | F |
D | Dresden | PL | Piotrkow Trybunalski | 09.2005 | 480 km | PL | |
D | Chemnitz | D | Lichtendorf | 01.2010 | 474 km | PL | |
D | Berlin | D | Hamm | 06.2006 | 470 km | D | F |
NL | Hengelo | D | Michendorf | 12.2006 | 465 km | NL | |
PL | Swiecko | D | Auetal | 08.2008 | 396 km | NL | |
PL | Trzciel | PL | Warszawa | 12.2006 | 390 km | PL | |
D | Handarpe | D | Michendorf | 09.2007 | 387 km | PL | M |
D | Eisenach | PL | Zgorzelec | 12.2007 | 370 km | UK | |
D | Siegen | D | Stadtroda | 09.2008 | 333 km | D | |
D | Herford | D | Michendorf | 08.2008 | 332 km | F | |
PL | Wroclaw | PL | Lubien | 12.2007 | 313 km | UK | |
A | Manssworth | A | Suben | 01.2008 | 291 km | H | |
D | Auetal | D | Michendorf | 12.2005 | 290 km | NL | |
D | Michendorf | D | Auetal | 06.2009 | 287 km | NL | F |
D | Reinhardshain | D | Aachen | 09.2005 | 280 km | PL | |
D | Wurzburg | D | Siegburg | 01.2008 | 278 km | D | |
NL | Maastricht | NL | Staphorst | 07.2005 | 265 km | NL | |
NL | Hengelo | NL | Wendeburg | 12.2009 | 264 km | D | |
D | Auetal | NL | Venlo | 10.2008 | 261 km | NL |
Shortest rides
My shortest lifts include several short rides of one kilometre, which were usually very helpful. At least twice I took a lift of 900 meters.
Days with at least 10 vehicles
from | to | date | distance | number of vehicles | avg distance per vehicle | |||
PL | Klodzko | NL | Eindhoven | 4 October 2008 | 1001.5 km | 14 | 71.5 km | |
NL | Bemelen | D | Jessen | 31 August 2006 | 705.0 km | 13 | 54.2 km | |
NL | Maastricht | NL | Maastricht | via B Sint-Maria-Oudenhove | 4 April 2004 | 363.0 km | 12 | 30.3 km |
NL | Bemelen | D | Merzig | 12 June 2004 | 337.0 km | 12 | 28.1 km | |
NL | Nieuwkuijk | D | Bautzen | 27 December 2009 | 816.2 km | 11 | 74.2 km | |
NL | Rosmalen | PL | Trzciel | 27 December 2006 | 813.0 km | 11 | 73.9 km | |
NL | Maastricht | PL | Lubniewice | 29 August 2008 | 800.5 km | 11 | 72.7 km | |
NL | Maastricht | PL | Wlen | 12 September 2008 | 847.5 km | 10 | 74.8 km | |
D | Aachen | NL | Leiden | 21 January 2006 | 272.0 km | 10 | 27.2 km |
Days with trips of more than 750 km
As of September 13, 2009.
from | to | date | distance | duration | number of vehicles | avg distance per vehicle | ||
NL | Bocholtz | PL | Piotrkow Trybunalski | 15 September 2005 | 1125.0 km | 24.0 hrs | 7 | 160.7 km |
PL | Proskow | NL | Maastricht | 11 January 2009 | 1117.0 km | 12.5 hrs | 2 | 558.5 km |
PL | Praty | NL | 's-Hertogenbosch | 13 September 2009 | 1086.0 km | 20.0 hrs | 4 | 271.5 km |
PL | Proskow | NL | Roermond | 11 January 2010 | 1052.9 km | 15.0 hrs | 6 | 175.5 km |
PL | Klodzko | NL | Eindhoven | 4 October 2008 | 1001.5 km | 15.0 hrs | 14 | 71.5 km |
PL | Wroclaw | NL | Eindhoven | 7 January 2007 | 969.0 km | 13.0 hrs | 5 | 193.8 km |
PL | Wroclaw | NL | Maastricht | 24 September 2005 | 968.0 km | 15.0 hrs | 8 | 121.0 km |
PL | Lowicz Walecki | D | Oberschelden | 23 September 2006 | 884.0 km | 15.0 hrs | 3 | 294.6 km |
NL | Maastricht | PL | Wlen | 12 September 2008 | 847.5 km | 15.0 hrs | 10 | 74.8 km |
NL | Geffen | PL | Trzciel | 27 December 2005 | 820.0 km | 12.0 hrs | 8 | 102.5 km |
NL | Nieuwkuijk | D | Bautzen | 27 December 2009 | 816.2 km | 11 | 74.2 km | |
NL | Rosmalen | PL | Trzciel | 27 December 2006 | 813.0 km | 13.0 hrs | 11 | 73.9 km |
NL | Maastricht | PL | Lubniewice | 29 August 2008 | 800.5 km | 12.0 hrs | 11 | 72.7 km |
PL | Rzepin | NL | Lierop | 8 January 2006 | 789.0 km | 8.0 hrs | 3 | 263.0 km |
NL | Nuland | D | Bautzen | 27 December 2008 | 775.0 km | 12.0 hrs | 9 | 86.1 km |
NL | Maastricht | D | Berlin | 28 May 2009 | 763.0 km | 12.0 hrs | 5 | 152.6 km |
Longest total distances
The longest distance I hitched in one day was 1125 kilometers, which took about 24 hours, another time 1117 kilometers in 13 hours, and four times I did about thousand kilometres, which 13, 15, 15 and 15 hours. Perhaps interesting to note, on one of these I hitched just lazy: 100 km in 5 hours (only regional roads), followed by 900 km in 10 hours (for 95% motorways)). My longest ride in the Netherlands was 265 kilometers, which was part of a trip of about 350 kilometers from Maastricht to Groningen; this is about the biggest distance one can do in the “small country” the Netherlands.
Hitchhiking spots used more than once
The image below shows all the hitchhiking spots which I have used more than once to hitchhike. The map excludes service areas on motorways. Legend: yellow pointer 2 or 3 times, green pointer 4 to 6 times, blue pointer 7 to 10 times, red pointer more than ten times. Situation as of May 11, 2009.
The image below shows all the hitchhiking spots which I have used more than once to hitchhike within The Netherlands (and the near vicinity). The map excludes service areas on motorways. This more detailed map gives a better sight as the density of my hitchhiking spots in The Netherlands is higher than abroad. Legend: yellow pointer 2 or 3 times, green pointer 4 to 6 times, blue pointer 7 to 10 times, red pointer more than ten times. Situation as of May 11, 2009.
Service areas on motorways used for hitchhiking
This image presents all the service areas on motorways which I used at least once to find rides, by asking, or by using a cardboard sign, within the Netherlands (and the near vicinity). Legend: yellow pointer 2 or 3 times, green pointer 4 to 6 times, blue pointer 7 to 10 times, red pointer more than ten times. Situation as of May 11, 2009.
Petrol station top 10
This table contains an overview of the petrol stations that I have used most often, including several statistics per station.
1 exit numbers
2 total distance (km)
3 average distance (km)
4 total wait (hours, minutes)
5 average wait (hours, minutes)
6 min distance (km)
7 max distance (km)
8 min wait (hours, minutes)
9 max wait (hours, minutes)
10 average wait per kilometer (seconds)
This table contains an overview of the petrol stations from where the distance of lifts was the longest, including several statistics per station.
1 exit numbers
2 nubmer of lifts
3 average distance (km)
4 total wait (hours, minutes)
5 average wait (hours, minutes)
6 min distance (km)
7 max distance (km)
8 min wait (hours, minutes)
9 max wait (hours, minutes)
10 average wait per kilometer (seconds)
Liftersplaats Maastricht
The table presents some data of hitchhiking trips during which I have used the official hitchhiking spot "liftersplaats" in Maastricht to obtain a lift. The table contains a column with the name of the town where the lift from the "liftersplaats" brought me to. Also the distance of this lift, the waiting time of this lift (3) and the length of this lift compared to the total length of the trip (6) are given in various columns, as well as my usual calculations of averages and totals.
# | date | lift to | trip from | trip to | distance | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
1 | xx.07.03 | Velp | Maastricht | Velp | 161 km | 161 km | 161.0 km | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 100% | 100% | 100% |
2 | 01.08.03 | Belfeld | Maastricht | Ootmarsum | 74 km | 235 km | 117.5 km | 0.45 | 0.50 | 0.25 | 71% | 171% | 85.5% |
3 | 14.02.04 | Rosmalen | Maastricht | Rosmalen | 130 km | 365 km | 121.7 km | 0.03 | 0.53 | 0.18 | 100% | 271% | 90.3% |
4 | 27.02.04 | Grathem | Maastricht | Zwolle | 45 km | 410 km | 102.5 km | 0.05 | 0.58 | 0.15 | 19% | 290% | 72.5% |
5 | 06.03.04 | Grathem | Maastricht | Arnhem | 45 km | 455 km | 91.0 km | 0.15 | 1.13 | 0.15 | 30% | 320% | 64.0% |
6 | 19.03.04 | Diemen | Maastricht | Diemen | 215 km | 670 km | 111.7 km | 0.30 | 1.43 | 0.17 | 100% | 420% | 70.0% |
7 | 29.04.04 | 's-Hertogenbosch | Maastricht | 's-Hertogenbosch | 127 km | 797 km | 113.9 km | 0.02 | 1.45 | 0.15 | 100% | 520% | 74.3% |
8 | 08.05.04 | Sint Joost | Maastricht | Roermond | 35 km | 832 km | 104.0 km | 0.10 | 1.55 | 0.14 | 77% | 597% | 74.6% |
9 | 09.05.04 | Rosmalen | Maastricht | Utrecht | 122 km | 954 km | 106.0 km | 0.10 | 2.05 | 0.14 | 72% | 669% | 74.3% |
10 | 14.05.04 | Grathem | Maastricht | Arnhem | 45 km | 999 km | 99.9 km | 0.07 | 2.12 | 0.13 | 30% | 699% | 69.9% |
11 | 24.06.04 | Eindhoven | Bemelen | Nieuwkuijk | 82 km | 1081 km | 98.3 km | 0.45 | 2.57 | 0.16 | 57% | 756% | 68.7% |
12 | 06.08.04 | Utrecht | Bemelen | Utrecht | 175 km | 1256 km | 104.6 km | 0.25 | 3.22 | 0.17 | 97% | 853% | 71.1% |
13 | 27.08.04 | Utrecht | Maastricht | Utrecht | 180 km | 1436 km | 110.5 km | 0.01 | 3.23 | 0.16 | 100% | 953% | 73.3% |
14 | 16.10.04 | Zaltbommel | Maastricht | Utrecht | 140 km | 1576 km | 112.8 km | 0.08 | 3.31 | 0.15 | 78% | 1031% | 73.6% |
15 | 14.01.05 | Echt | Bemelen | 's-Hertogenbosch | 33 km | 1609 km | 107.3 km | 0.07 | 3.38 | 0.15 | 25% | 1056% | 70.4% |
16 | 30.01.05 | Echt | Maastricht | Utrecht | 33 km | 1642 km | 102.6 km | 0.05 | 3.43 | 0.14 | 18% | 1074% | 67.1% |
17 | 27.03.05 | Vlijmen | Maastricht | Vlijmen | 130 km | 1772 km | 104.2 km | 0.05 | 3.48 | 0.13 | 100% | 1174% | 69.1% |
18 | 16.06.05 | Echt | Maastricht | 's-Hertogenbosch | 33 km | 1805 km | 100.3 km | 0.10 | 3.58 | 0.13 | 26% | 1200% | 66.7% |
19 | 09.07.05 | Weert | Bemelen | 's-Hertogenbosch | 50 km | 1855 km | 97.6 km | 0.07 | 4.05 | 0.13 | 42% | 1242% | 65.4% |
20 | 29.07.05 | Staphorst | Bemelen | Groningen | 265 km | 2120 km | 106.0 km | 0.50 | 4.55 | 0.15 | 74% | 1316% | 65.8% |
21 | 09.09.05 | 's-Hertogenbosch | Bemelen | 's-Hertogenbosch | 128 km | 2228 km | 106.1 km | 0.15 | 5.10 | 0.15 | 96% | 1412% | 67.2% |
22 | 07.10.05 | Grathem | Bemelen | Almelo | 45 km | 2273 km | 103.3 km | 0.15 | 5.25 | 0.15 | 18% | 1430% | 65.0% |
23 | 22.10.05 | Nederweert | Maastricht | Arnhem | 44 km | 2317 km | 100.7 km | 0.15 | 5.40 | 0.15 | 27% | 1457% | 63.3% |
24 | 18.11.05 | 's-Hertogenbosch | Bemelen | 's-Hertogenbosch | 128 km | 2445 km | 101.9 km | 0.15 | 5.55 | 0.15 | 96% | 1553% | 64.7% |
25 | 18.12.05 | Veldhoven | Maastricht | Veldhoven | 92 km | 2537 km | 101.5 km | 0.05 | 6.00 | 0.14 | 97% | 1650% | 66.0% |
26 | 24.12.05 | Maarheeze | Bemelen | 's-Hertogenbosch | 68 km | 2605 km | 100.2 km | 0.15 | 6.15 | 0.14 | 51% | 1701% | 65.4% |
27 | 15.01.06 | Eindhoven | Maastricht | Utrecht | 82 km | 2687 km | 99.5 km | 0.10 | 6.25 | 0.14 | 45% | 1746% | 65.7% |
28 | 21.01.06 | Echt | Aachen | Leiden | 33 km | 2720 km | 97.1 km | 0.05 | 6.30 | 0.14 | 12% | 1758% | 62.7% |
29 | 11.03.06 | Leende | Bemelen | Leende | 75 km | 2795 km | 96.4 km | 0.30 | 7.00 | 0.14 | 95% | 1853% | 63.9% |
30 | 21.04.06 | Vlijmen | Maastricht | Vlijmen | 130 km | 2925 km | 97.5 km | 0.17 | 7.17 | 0.15 | 100% | 1953% | 65.1% |
31 | 01.06.06 | Heerlen | Bemelen | Berlin | 22 km | 2947 km | 95.1 km | 0.05 | 7.22 | 0.14 | 3% | 1956% | 63.1% |
32 | 10.06.06 | Veldhoven | Maastricht | 's-Hertogenbosch | 92 km | 3039 km | 95.0 km | 0.03 | 7.25 | 0.14 | 72% | 2028% | 63.4% |
33 | 01.07.06 | 's-Hertogenbosch | Maastricht | Utrecht | 122 km | 3161 km | 95.8 km | 0.20 | 7.45 | 0.14 | 72% | 2100% | 63.6% |
34 | 11.08.06 | Geleen | Maastricht | Antwerpen | 16 km | 3177 km | 93.4 km | 0.15 | 8.00 | 0.14 | 11% | 2111% | 62.1% |
35 | 20.08.06 | Heerlen | Maastricht | Heerlen | 22 km | 3199 km | 91.4 km | 0.05 | 8.05 | 0.14 | 100% | 2211% | 63.2% |
36 | 26.08.06 | Echt | Bemelen | 's-Hertogenbosch | 33 km | 3232 km | 89.8 km | 0.03 | 8.08 | 0.14 | 25% | 2236% | 62.1% |
37 | 24.12.06 | Liempde | Bemelen | 's-Hertogenbosch | 100 km | 3332 km | 90.1 km | 0.05 | 8.13 | 0.13 | 78% | 2314% | 62.5% |
38 | 20.01.07 | Geleen | Bemelen | Bruxelles | 16 km | 3348 km | 88.1 km | 0.30 | 8.43 | 0.14 | 11% | 2325% | 61.2% |
39 | 03.02.07 | Waalre | Bemelen | 's-Hertogenbosch | 81 km | 3429 km | 87.9 km | 0.00 | 8.43 | 0.13 | 66% | 2391% | 61.3% |
40 | 06.04.07 | 's-Hertogenbosch | Bemelen | 's-Hertogenbosch | 117 km | 3546 km | 88.7 km | 0.05 | 8.48 | 0.13 | 97% | 2488% | 62.2% |
41 | 19.05.07 | Grathem | Maastricht | Venray | 45 km | 3591 km | 87.6 km | 0.10 | 8.58 | 0.13 | 41% | 2529% | 61.7% |
42 | 30.06.07 | Waalre | Maastricht | 's-Hertogenbosch | 81 km | 3672 km | 87.4 km | 0.10 | 9.08 | 0.13 | 68% | 2597% | 61.8% |
43 | 19.08.07 | Heerlen | Bemelen | Heerlen | 23 km | 3695 km | 85.9 km | 0.05 | 9.13 | 0.13 | 82% | 2679% | 62.3% |
44 | 30.08.07 | Nederweert | Bemelen | 's-Hertogenbosch | 44 km | 3739 km | 85.0 km | 1.15 | 10.28 | 0.14 | 34% | 2713% | 61.7% |
45 | 06.10.07 | Maarheeze | Maastricht | Kaatsheuvel | 68 km | 3807 km | 84.6 km | 0.30 | 10.58 | 0.15 | 50% | 2763% | 61.4% |
46 | 19.10.07 | Zaltbommel | Maastricht | Lelystad | 140 km | 3947 km | 85.8 km | 0.05 | 11.03 | 0.14 | 61% | 2824% | 61.4% |
47 | 03.11.07 | 's-Hertogenbosch | Maastricht | 's-Hertogenbosch | 133 km | 4080 km | 86.8 km | 0.10 | 11.13 | 0.14 | 100% | 2924% | 62.2% |
48 | 14.11.07 | Meerssen | Bemelen | Meerssen | 3 km | 4083 km | 85.1 km | 0.03 | 11.16 | 0.14 | 33% | 2957% | 61.6% |
49 | 30.11.07 | Maarheeze | Maastricht | Rotterdam | 68 km | 4151 km | 84.7 km | 0.07 | 11.23 | 0.14 | 34% | 2991% | 61.0% |
50 | 22.12.07 | Weert | Bemelen | Veldhoven | 50 km | 4201 km | 84.0 km | 0.20 | 11.43 | 0.14 | 52% | 3043% | 60.9% |
51 | 04.04.08 | Urmond | Maastricht | Nieuwkuijk | 16 km | 4217 km | 82.7 km | 1.15 | 12.58 | 0.15 | 12% | 3055% | 59.9% |
52 | 05.05.08 | Geleen | Bemelen | Berlin | 16 km | 4233 km | 81.4 km | 0.30 | 13.28 | 0.16 | 2% | 3057% | 58.8% |
53 | 16.05.08 | Zaltbommel | Maastricht | 's-Hertogenbosch | 134 km | 4367 km | 82.4 km | 0.03 | 13.31 | 0.15 | 91% | 3148% | 59.4% |
54 | 13.06.08 | 's-Hertogenbosch | Maastricht | Vlijmen | 120 km | 4487 km | 83.1 km | 0.04 | 13.35 | 0.15 | 95% | 3243% | 60.1% |
55 | 29.06.08 | Weert | Maastricht | Nieuwkuijk | 52 km | 4539 km | 82.5 km | 0.20 | 13.55 | 0.15 | 37% | 3280% | 59.6% |
56 | 22.08.08 | Roosteren | Maastricht | Utrecht | 27 km | 4566 km | 81.5 km | 0.15 | 14.10 | 0.15 | 16% | 3296% | 58.9% |
57 | 29.08.08 | Aachen | Maastricht | Lubniewice | 41 km | 4607 km | 80.8 km | 0.50 | 15.00 | 0.16 | 5% | 3301% | 57.9% |
58 | 20.12.08 | Born | Maastricht | Nieuwkuijk | 19 km | 4626 km | 79.8 km | 0.10 | 15.10 | 0.16 | 14% | 3315% | 57.2% |
59 | 24.12.08 | 's-Hertogenbosch | Maastricht | 's-Hertogenbosch | 131 km | 4757 km | 80.6 km | 0.20 | 15.30 | 0.16 | 100% | 3415% | 57.9% |
60 | 18.01.09 | Echt | Maastricht | 's-Hertogenbosch | 33 km | 4790 km | 79.8 km | 0.20 | 15.30 | 0.16 | 100% | 3515% | 58.6% |
61 | 31.01.09 | 's-Hertogenbosch | Maastricht | Rheden | 118 km | 4908 km | 80.5 km | 0.35 | 16.05 | 0.16 | 53% | 3568% | 58.5% |
62 | 07.02.09 | Veldhoven | Maastricht | 's-Hertogenbosch | 89 km | 4997 km | 80.6 km | 0.30 | 16.35 | 0.16 | 67% | 3635% | 58.6% |
63 | 28.02.09 | Echt | Maastricht | Eindhoven | 33 km | 5030 km | 79.8 km | 0.15 | 16.50 | 0.16 | 37% | 3672% | 58.3% |
64 | 10.05.09 | 's-Hertogenbosch | Maastricht | Nieuwkuijk | 118 km | 5148 km | 80.4 km | 0.15 | 17.05 | 0.16 | 91% | 3763% | 58.8% |
65 | 17.05.09 | Veldhoven | Maastricht | Woerden | 89 km | 5237 km | 80.6 km | 0.25 | 17.30 | 0.16 | 47% | 3810% | 58.6% |
66 | 28.05.09 | Bocholtz | Maastricht | Berlin | 26 km | 5263 km | 79.7 km | 0.20 | 17.50 | 0.16 | 3% | 3813% | 57.8% |
67 | 16.08.09 | Echt | Maastricht | Venray | 33 km | 5296 km | 79.0 km | 0.15 | 18.05 | 0.16 | 20% | 3833% | 57.2% |
68 | 13.12.09 | Zaltbommel | Maastricht | Utrecht | 134 km | 5400 km | 79.4 km | 0.15 | 18.20 | 0.16 | 77% | 3910% | 57.5% |
69 | 20.12.09 | Volkel | Maastricht | Nieuwkuijk | 122 km | 5522 km | 80.0 km | 0.03 | 18.23 | 0.16 | 74% | 3984% | 57.7% |
70 | 24.12.09 | Maarheeze | Maastricht | 's-Hertogenbosch | 68 km | 5590 km | 79.9 km | 0.30 | 18.53 | 0.16 | 53% | 4037% | 57.7% |
1 total distance of all rides thus far (km)
2 average distance of all rides thus far (km)
3 waiting time for the lift (hours, minutes)
4 total waiting time of all rides thus far (hours, minutes)
5 average waiting time of all rides thus far (hours, minutes)
6 share of the ride distance in trip length (%)
7 total of shares of the ride distance in trip length of all rides so far (%)
8 averages share of the ride distance in trip length of all rides so far (%)
My statistics and hitchhiking website for the Netherlands
Here is the website that I edit: Hitchhiking (ad-hoc-carpooling) in the Netherlands: [1]
I keep detailed lists and statistics of my travels. For an extract, take a look here: [2]. The page holds a list of all trips, a table with numbers of rides, average waits and average ride lengths per country and a list of the motorway service areas which I have used during hitchhiking.
Let’s build this community! See you on the road!
Top speeds
Austria 170 kmh 01.2008
Belgium unknown
France unknown
Czech Republic unknown
Germany (Autobahn): 1. 230 kmh 11.2003, 2. 220 kmh 06.2009, 3. 210 kmh 09.2007, 4. 205 kmh (130 mph) 01.2008
Germany (Bundesstrasse): 195 kmh 06.2009 on B53 Zell-Traben-Trarbach
Lithuania unknown
Luxembourg unknown
The Netherlands 1. 180 kmh 11.2007 on A73 Eindhoven-Oss, 2. 175 kmh 01.2006 on A2 Utrecht-Eindhoven
Poland 180 kmh 01.2007
Slovakia 170 kmh 01.2008
Ukraine unknown
Contact
- MSN: fverhart AT hotmail DOT com
- Google Talk: fverhart AT gmail DOT com
- Gadu Gadu: 3409097
- Yahoo! Messenger: fverhart AT yahoo DOT com
- Hospitality Club, Be Welcome, Warm Showers: fverhart, Couch Surfing: trahrevf
Trivia
- The very first lift was served in July 1993, when during a hike my hiking companion, my father, decided to hitch a bit. We were in French Alps and by taking a lift we were actually able to go towards the higher parts of a mountain.
- I also hitched with my father on 28 October 2004 in Polish Karkonosze mountains and on 17 November 2007 in Belgian Voer region, in both cases public transport would have demanded a long wait.
- Rides by taxi were served to me from Maastricht to Liege (the driver was anyway driving back, empty), from Vaals to Aachen (a man who had ordered the taxi heard that we had the same destination as we were waiting for the bus and said that we could hop in), from Maastricht to Bemelen (there were already customers aboard and nobody turned me down when I said that I would go along only without paying) and from Bardo to Klodzko, while I was hitchhiking with two females, who were rather surprised that a taxi would take hitchhikers.
- On May 25, 2005 I got my first lift in a Porsche, which was driven by a speed of 100 kmh through the center of Luxembourg city (speed limit of 50 or 70 kmh).
- On September 23, 2005, we got a lift from a schoolbus of the famous Polish bus brand Autosan.
- On April 21, 2006 I got my first lift in a Cadillac. The driver was born in the same year as the car was made, being 1959, and the driver was the owner of a coffeeshop in Maastricht.
- On September 8, 2006, we got a lift in Polish Bieszczady Mountains from a local forest worker on a rough Russian made wood truck.
- On December 29, 2007 I got a ride from a driver with three nons from Tatras to Kezmarok, which was the first ride I had in a car with nons.
- On December 23, 2007 I left Maastricht for the 50th time from the official hitchhiking spot.
- On August 22, 2008 I used petrol station Ooiendonk along the A2-motorway for the first time to hitchhike; nothing special, although thereby I have used all nine A2-motorway petrol stations between Maastricht and 's-Hertogenbosch to hitchhike.
- On August 31, 2008 I was given a lift for the first time by known people while standing on the road, somewhere halfway a journey (in the morning we were both leaving the same event, the driver not knowing that I would be thankful for a ride, and likewise). I tagged along for a mere 396 kilometres from the Polish border up to the service area Auetal Nord in the middle of Germany.
- On January 11, 2009 my totale mileage crossed the 50,000 kilometer barrier, which happened during my longest ride to date and the first single ride of more than 1,000 kilometers. This was also the first ride in a Vauxhall (British Opel) and one of few rides with a skibox on the roof ;). Also it was the earliest started journey, with a start at 04.45 in the morning and the highest average distance per vehicle of 558.5 km (two vehicles). Thanks for Matthias and Kamila.
- Ride number 1,000 was acquired on 7 June 2009...
- On September 13, 2009 I got my second single ride of more than 1,000 kilometres, in a Mercedes van, with driver Sergej from Ternopil in Ukraine. For about 98% the ride covered the same roads as the first single ride of more than 1,000 kilometres on January 11 of this year.