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__NOTOC__The whole '''[[Ruhr Area]]''' is a well-known pain in the ass for anyone crossing that region. If you observe the highway system, you'll find out that they zig zag and cross each other in the Ruhr, specially right North of Cologne. There is no "belt" highway around the city, just those zig zags.The flow of cars is highly difficult to predict because cars go from one highway to another. There are generally 3-4 possible highways one can take to travel North/South or East/West. It's the most densely populated zone in Germany, so a lot of transport is local or regional, making it even more difficult. Think about it - if you're passing by, avoid getting dropped there! 

To get out of '''Cologne''' to the South towards [[Bonn]] or [[Koblenz]], the best possibility is to go to the ''Verteilerkreis Süd'', a big [[roundabout]] where all vehicles that are heading for the motorway to the South or West are passing by. There is also a petrol station beside it and a traffic light where one can ask people for a lift. If you're headed to [[Frankfurt am Main]], take the train to the last stop ''Königsforst'' (tram U9), walk straight for about 15 min. Then after a right turn you are on a decent on ramp of the [[A3 (Germany)|A3]], most of the cars will go to [[Frankfurt am Main]] or can drop you at least on the ''Rasthof Siegburg'' (about 20 km South). Another possibility for the [[A3 (Germany)|A3]] direction [[Frankfurt]] is to take the train “RB 25” from the main station in the direction “Marienheide” or “Overath” for 3,20 €. Leave at “Stümpen” and turn right and go up to the “Kiefernweg” and turn right. Follow the street that is later called “Dammelsfurther Weg” up to the “Pestalozziweg” for maybe 500 meters and turn right. Now you pass the Autobahn and turn right again in the “Plantage”. Follow this way a few hundred meters through the forest and you will see a service station on the right side. Maybe you have to climb a fence. Now you are on the a station without oil station but much traffic and it's easy to get a ride there. It takes approximately 40 minutes to reach it from Cologne Hbf (main train station).  === North or East towards [[Berlin]], [[Dortmund]], [[Hannover]] and [[Münster]]===

Not the best option Hitching in that direction is legendarily difficult unless you go to [[Bonn]] or [[Koblenz]]take a regional train and walk a hour. For heading Several experienced hitchhikers got trapped countless hours and decided to [[Frankfurt am Main]], take the a train to the last stop ''Königsforst'' (tram nr 9), walk straight for about 15 mininstead. Really. Then after a right turn you are on a decent on ramp of the [[A3 (Germany)|A3]], most of the cars will go to [[Frankfurt am Main]] or can drop you at least on the ''Rasthof Siegburg'' (about 20 km south)

Another possibility Close to achieve the A 3 in the direction Frankfurt is city, you may want to take try one of the train “RB 25” from the main station on ramps in the direction “Marienheide” or “Overath” for 3North East of Cologne, such as Köln Delbrück,20 €. Leave at “Stümpen” and turn right and go up to exit 23 on the “Kiefernweg” and turn right. Follow [[A3 (Germany)|A3]](take the street that is later called “Dammelsfurther Weg” up U18 to the “Pestalozziweg” for maybe 500 meters and turn right"Holweide Vischeringstr") or Köln-Mülheim. Now And once you pass the Autobahn and turn right again in the “Plantage”. Follow this way a few hundred meters through the forest and you will see a service station on the right side. Maybe you have 've tried, come back to climb a fence. Now you are on the a station without oil station but much traffic. Easy to get a ride here. Totally it takes approximately 40 minutes from the Cologne main station. In my experience update this is the best possibility to leave Colognepage :).

=== It's also possible to hitch from the South East towards [[Berlin]] ===of the city because there is a petrol station on the A59. The first service area on closest bus stop is Rasthof Remscheid"Eil Heumarer", bus 152. You can get there by public transport (quite inconvenient though) or try one of the on ramps in the North East of Colognetake it from Steinstr. I think the best one S-Bahn, which is relatively close to KVB-from the main station "Rixdorfer Straße". In case you try to use a ramp from Cologne, a good take-off sign is "Remscheid", because the first service area on the [[A1 (Germany)|A1]] is "Rasthof Remscheid", just before the exit for Remscheid. Thereare lots of commuters. You can also get there by train from Cologne Dom/Hbf for 6,50 Euros via Remscheid Hbf and walk 5 km to the area (map [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Remscheid+Hbf&daddr=Unknown+road&hl=en&geocode=FTLnDAMdiNttAClRpZsmWyq5RzGlIfHuvHkWrQ%3BFayeDAMdfEduAA&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=15&dirflg=w&sll=51.157143,7.226601&sspn=0.008559,0.023174&ie=UTF8&ll=51.169872,7.215099&spn=0.034228,0.092697&t=h&z=13 here]). If you's a petrol station just before it re lucky, catch the bus 672 or 673 (valid with your zone 4 ticket) to Talsperre/Mebusmühle or Talsperre/Raststätte (closer but only 673) and itavoid the walk. These buses do not pass very often, though. === North towards [[Düsseldorf]] or [[Nijmegen]] === Take the tram no. 5 or 13 to ''Nußbaumer Str.''s really close. Lots There is an onramp. A lot of commuterstraffic goes in your direction, but it is very dangerous for drivers to stop there.[User:Perilisk] tried this spot in 2008 but was unsuccessful and uncomfortable stopping cars there.

 On the motorway ring around Cologne, to the west of the city, there's the motorway service area ''Köln-Frechen'', Germany's busiest service station. You can reach this services it by catching a train to Königsdorf Station and then S-Bahn, walk down Augustinus Straße and turn right to on Marienhöfer Weg which leads you direct directly to the servicesservice area. Alternatively, you can take Tram #1 U1 to the terminus ''(Schulstraße)'' in Weiden and walk ~4 km along Aachener Straße until Augustinus Straße in Königsdorf.

=== North towards Another way to get out of Cologne in that direction is to go near the [[DüsseldorfA4 (Germany)|A4]], [[Nijmegen]] or [[Dortmund]] ===Take Exit 11a Klettenberg and 11b Köln-Eifeltor. When at the latest, walking slightly North there is an extra lane that looks like an ideal place for people to stop, and slightly South of it is a big truck stop and petrol station where you can try and ask people. To reach these exits from the centre, take the tram no. 5 U18 to "Efferen" (for 11a) or 13 to ''Nußbaumer Str.''"Eifelwall" and then bus 138 to "Güterverkehrszentrum". There This option is an onramp. A lot of traffic goes especially interesting to know if you get trapped in your direction, but it is very dangerous for drivers Cologne while trying to stop therecross the Ruhr area.

Coming from the South on the A555 or through the A4, you may as well as the driver to leave you at the ''Am Verteilerkreis'' roundabout situated just at the complete end of the A555, at the ''Kreuz Köln-Süd'' (Junction A555-A4). The driver can really leave you at a petrol station and gain the motorway back with complete ease.From there, you can walk along the Bonner Straße to catch a bus to the heart of Köln. == Useful Links == * [http://www.kvb-koeln.de/german/home/ KVB], the local/regional public transportation network has a good route planner. Very useful!