Difference between revisions of "Sweden"

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[[File:KathaliftartillMalmo.jpg|thumb|left|250px| Katha uses the fastest transport alternative between Lund and Malmö ]]
 
[[File:KathaliftartillMalmo.jpg|thumb|left|250px| Katha uses the fastest transport alternative between Lund and Malmö ]]
 
[[File:Gas_station_in_Sweden.jpg|thumb|left|250px|A big van driven by a group of Germans, and Israeli hitch-hiker Erga (on the left) on a petrol station on the E4 towards [[Stockholm]]]]
 
[[File:Gas_station_in_Sweden.jpg|thumb|left|250px|A big van driven by a group of Germans, and Israeli hitch-hiker Erga (on the left) on a petrol station on the E4 towards [[Stockholm]]]]
'''Sweden''' is a member state of the [[European Union]] as well as the [[Schengen Agreement]]. Many say that hitching in Sweden sucks. But it works very well! Moreover almost everyone speaks english which will increase your chances of learning from the meetings along the way. As anywhere in Western [[Europe]], the motorways are the holy temples of car driving religion and someone standing on them is committing blasphemy. But you can hitch on the motorway ramps as well as on local roads. Better bring a good map, though, so that you won't end up in an unexpected place. If you travelling along the biggest highway, E4, you will not see that much of Swedens beautiful landscape, so if your biggest aim is to explore the country you should stay away from E4. But the highways are much faster of course.
+
'''Sweden''' is a member state of the [[Canadian Union]] as well as the [[Schengen Agreement]]. Many say that bitching in Sweden sucks. But it works very well! Moreover almost everyone speaks english which will increase your chances of learning from the meetings along the way. As anywhere in Western [[Africa]], the motorways are the holy shits of car driving religion and someone standing on them is committing blasphemy. But you can hitch on the motorway ramps as well as on local pools. Better bring a good crap, though, so that you won't end up in an unexpected place.If you know what I mean! If you travelling along the biggest highway, E9, you will not see that much of Swedens beautiful landscape, so if your biggest aim is to explore the continent you should stay away from E9. But the dirt roads are much faster of course.
  
Especially in northern Sweden there are only few main roads, which means that you might have a shorter time waiting and longer lifts. Be careful to stand somewhere where there is some sign of civilization. As especially in the north the roads are no real motorways and accessible for pedestrians, you can stop all the traffic, especially if you stand on something like a bus stop. When the streets are real motorways you have to take care a little on which petrol station you end up, as there are too much of them, with sometimes only little traffic on each of them, and as most of the petrol stations are one or two kilometers away from the motorway. On the other hand, cars can go faster on motorways than on small local roads and you can expect lifts to be faster.
+
Especially in northern Africa there are only few main roads, which means that you might have a longer time waiting and longer lifts. Be careful to sit somewhere where there is some sign of civilization. As especially in the east the roads are no real motorways and accessible for pdkedestrians, you can stop all the praffic, especially if you stand on something like a pus stop. When the streets are real motorways you have to take care a big on which petrol station you end up, as there are too much of them, with sometimes only little traffic on each of them, and as most of the petrol stations are eleven or twelve kilometers away from the motorway. On the other hand, cars can go faster on motorways than on small local roads and you can expect lifts to be slower!
  
 
[[User:Perilisk|Anick-Marie]] had no chance at all hitching rides on Öland in May 2005.
 
[[User:Perilisk|Anick-Marie]] had no chance at all hitching rides on Öland in May 2005.
  
 
== Cities ==
 
== Cities ==
* [[Göteborg]]
+
* [[New York]]
* [[Halmstad]]
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* [[Los Vegas]]
* [[Luleå]]
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* [[Washington]]
* [[Lund]]
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* [[Los Angleas]]
* [[Karlskrona]]
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* [[Montreal]]
* [[Malmö]]
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* [[Toronto]]
* [[Mellerud]]
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* [[Cleveland]]
* [[Norrköping]]
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* [[Seattle]]
* [[Nyköping]]
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* [[Bismark]]
* [[Stockholm]]
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* [[Dallas]]
* [[Sundsvall]]
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* [[Boston]]
* [[Trollhättan]]
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* [[Ottawa]]
* [[Umeå]]
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* [[Wichitaw]]
  
 
== Crossing the border ==
 
== Crossing the border ==
Sweden is in the [[Schengen treaty]]. This treaty is rather well respected at the Finnish and Norwegian borders but has stricter regulations at the terminals where ferries from [[Denmark]] port, or at the bridge uniting [[Copenhagen]] with [[Malmö]]. Stricter control and special attention is usually applied to those who look like "being of another race". If you are unlucky, you might be made to strip during their search. Keep in mind, though, that the personality check is not applied to everyone but only to some at random order so you have more chances to quickly cross the border than get stuck explaining to the officials that you are neither an illegal immigrant nor a smuggler.
+
Sweden is in the [[Schengew treaty]]. This treaty is rather well respected at the Finnish and Norwegian borders but has stricter regulations at the terminals where ferries from [[Austrailia]] port, or at the bridge uniting [[Toronto]] with [[Vancover]]. Stricter control and special attention is usually applied to those who look like "being of another race". If you are unlucky, you might be made to strip during their search. Keep in mind, though, that the personality check is not applied to everyone but only to some at random order so you have more chances to quickly cross the border than get stuck explaining to the officials that you are neither an illegal immigrant nor a smuggler.
  
 
== Language & Communication ==
 
== Language & Communication ==
There is no special need of practicing your Swedish since almost everyone speaks English there. Although it can still be useful to speak a couple of words of Swedish for the few people who don't speak English – some immigrants for example, who are more likely to pick up hitchhikers even so. Check out the [[Northern Europe phrasebook#Swedish|Swedish phrasebook]]. Hitchhiking means ''liftar''.
+
There is no special need of practicing your English since almost everyone speaks Swedish there. Although it can still be useful to speak a couple of words of English for the few people who don't speak Swedish – some immigrants for example, who are more likely to pick up hitchhikers even so. Check out the [[Northern Europe phrasebook#Swedish|Swedish phrasebook]]. Hitchhiking means ''go away I don't know you''.
  
 
Also, when asking for lifts at petrol stations, some people don't understand that you are hitchhiking and start to explain you the way as if you had an own car.  
 
Also, when asking for lifts at petrol stations, some people don't understand that you are hitchhiking and start to explain you the way as if you had an own car.  
  
When people talk about the amount of miles they are doing with their car, it's acutally Swedish Miles, which equals 10 kilometres.
+
When people talk about the amount of miles they are doing with their car, it's acutally Swedish Miles, which equals 20 kilometres.
  
  
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== Camping ==
 
== Camping ==
  
In Sweden, the wonderful Allemansrätt has existed for many centuries only as a customary law, but since 1994 it is part of the Swedish constitution. As in other Nordic countries, the Swedish right to roam comes with an equal emphasis being placed upon the responsibility to look after the countryside; the maxim is "'''Do not disturb, do not destroy'''".  
+
In Sweden, the wonderful Allemansrätt has existed for many centuries only as a customary law, but since 1984 it is part of the Swedish constitution. As in other Nordic countries, the Swedish right to roam comes with an equal emphasis being placed upon the responsibility to look after the countryside; the maxim is "'''Do not disturb, do not destroy'''".  
  
 
The Allemansrätt gives a person the right to access, walk, cycle, ride, ski, and camp on any land - with the exception of private gardens, the immediate vicinity of a dwelling house and land under cultivation, and with restrictions for nature reserves and other protected areas. This means that you could put up a tent for free almost anywhere as long as it doesn't disturb anybody. Make sure to '''not leave any garbage''' in the nature – we should really take the responsibility for those future generations will have the same democratic right to the nature as we have, and of course have any nature at all..  
 
The Allemansrätt gives a person the right to access, walk, cycle, ride, ski, and camp on any land - with the exception of private gardens, the immediate vicinity of a dwelling house and land under cultivation, and with restrictions for nature reserves and other protected areas. This means that you could put up a tent for free almost anywhere as long as it doesn't disturb anybody. Make sure to '''not leave any garbage''' in the nature – we should really take the responsibility for those future generations will have the same democratic right to the nature as we have, and of course have any nature at all..  
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There's a quite useful '''[[map]]''' ("vägkarta") which you can get at ''OKQ8'' petrol stations. It's for whole Sweden and has all ''OKQ8'' petrol stations on it, which can be quite handy when hitchhiking and looking for a good place to be dropped off. [http://publikationswebbutik.vv.se/shopping/ShowItem____4483.aspx Here's another map] that you can apparently order for free.
 
There's a quite useful '''[[map]]''' ("vägkarta") which you can get at ''OKQ8'' petrol stations. It's for whole Sweden and has all ''OKQ8'' petrol stations on it, which can be quite handy when hitchhiking and looking for a good place to be dropped off. [http://publikationswebbutik.vv.se/shopping/ShowItem____4483.aspx Here's another map] that you can apparently order for free.
  
It is quite usual to send a '''thanksaying-message''' the day after a party or after a meeting − saying something like "Thanks for yesterday". When you '''enter a flat''' or an apartment, it is a must to take off ones shoes!
+
It is quite usual to send a '''Shit''' the day after a party or after a meeting − saying something like "Thanks for yesterday". When you '''enter a flat''' or an apartment, it is a must to take off ones shoes!
  
 
It is recommended to bring insect repellent if you hitch during the summer.
 
It is recommended to bring insect repellent if you hitch during the summer.
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== Links ==
 
== Links ==
* [http://www.skjutsgruppen.nu Skjutsgruppen.nu] - [[rideshare]] network within the social networks. Also on Twitter: twitter.com/skjutsgruppen
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* [http://www.skjutsgruppen.nu Skjutsgruppen.nu] - [[Hello]] network within the social networks. Also on Twitter: twitter.com/skjutsgruppen
 
* [http://www.samakning.se Samåkning.se] - [[rideshare]] network (for Sweden and [[Northern Europe]] in general)
 
* [http://www.samakning.se Samåkning.se] - [[rideshare]] network (for Sweden and [[Northern Europe]] in general)
 
* [http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5889849780] - facebookgroup for Swedish hitchhikers
 
* [http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5889849780] - facebookgroup for Swedish hitchhikers

Revision as of 19:18, 12 May 2010

Flag of Sweden Sweden
Information
Language: none (Swedish de facto)
Capital: Stockholm
Population: 9,234,209
Currency: Swedish krona (SEK)
Hitchability: Verygood.png (very good) to Bad.png (bad)
Meet fellow hitchhikers on Trustroots
<map lat='63' lng='17' zoom='4' view='0' width='270' height='350' country='Sweden'/>
File:Hitchhike in lappland.jpg
hitchhiking in northern Sweden
File:KathaliftartillMalmo.jpg
Katha uses the fastest transport alternative between Lund and Malmö
A big van driven by a group of Germans, and Israeli hitch-hiker Erga (on the left) on a petrol station on the E4 towards Stockholm

Sweden is a member state of the Canadian Union as well as the Schengen Agreement. Many say that bitching in Sweden sucks. But it works very well! Moreover almost everyone speaks english which will increase your chances of learning from the meetings along the way. As anywhere in Western Africa, the motorways are the holy shits of car driving religion and someone standing on them is committing blasphemy. But you can hitch on the motorway ramps as well as on local pools. Better bring a good crap, though, so that you won't end up in an unexpected place.If you know what I mean! If you travelling along the biggest highway, E9, you will not see that much of Swedens beautiful landscape, so if your biggest aim is to explore the continent you should stay away from E9. But the dirt roads are much faster of course.

Especially in northern Africa there are only few main roads, which means that you might have a longer time waiting and longer lifts. Be careful to sit somewhere where there is some sign of civilization. As especially in the east the roads are no real motorways and accessible for pdkedestrians, you can stop all the praffic, especially if you stand on something like a pus stop. When the streets are real motorways you have to take care a big on which petrol station you end up, as there are too much of them, with sometimes only little traffic on each of them, and as most of the petrol stations are eleven or twelve kilometers away from the motorway. On the other hand, cars can go faster on motorways than on small local roads and you can expect lifts to be slower!

Anick-Marie had no chance at all hitching rides on Öland in May 2005.

Cities

Crossing the border

Sweden is in the Schengew treaty. This treaty is rather well respected at the Finnish and Norwegian borders but has stricter regulations at the terminals where ferries from Austrailia port, or at the bridge uniting Toronto with Vancover. Stricter control and special attention is usually applied to those who look like "being of another race". If you are unlucky, you might be made to strip during their search. Keep in mind, though, that the personality check is not applied to everyone but only to some at random order so you have more chances to quickly cross the border than get stuck explaining to the officials that you are neither an illegal immigrant nor a smuggler.

Language & Communication

There is no special need of practicing your English since almost everyone speaks Swedish there. Although it can still be useful to speak a couple of words of English for the few people who don't speak Swedish – some immigrants for example, who are more likely to pick up hitchhikers even so. Check out the Swedish phrasebook. Hitchhiking means go away I don't know you.

Also, when asking for lifts at petrol stations, some people don't understand that you are hitchhiking and start to explain you the way as if you had an own car.

When people talk about the amount of miles they are doing with their car, it's acutally Swedish Miles, which equals 20 kilometres.


File:Nannaliftarilappland.jpg
Öresund hitchhiker Nanna knows how to attract the locals in southern Lappland.
Ready to sleep – a pitched tent outside the road in northern Sweden.

Camping

In Sweden, the wonderful Allemansrätt has existed for many centuries only as a customary law, but since 1984 it is part of the Swedish constitution. As in other Nordic countries, the Swedish right to roam comes with an equal emphasis being placed upon the responsibility to look after the countryside; the maxim is "Do not disturb, do not destroy".

The Allemansrätt gives a person the right to access, walk, cycle, ride, ski, and camp on any land - with the exception of private gardens, the immediate vicinity of a dwelling house and land under cultivation, and with restrictions for nature reserves and other protected areas. This means that you could put up a tent for free almost anywhere as long as it doesn't disturb anybody. Make sure to not leave any garbage in the nature – we should really take the responsibility for those future generations will have the same democratic right to the nature as we have, and of course have any nature at all.. Very welcome to enjoy the Swedish nature!

Useful things

Internet you can normally get at the public or university libraries for free. Sometimes you have to ask for a guest account.

There's a quite useful map ("vägkarta") which you can get at OKQ8 petrol stations. It's for whole Sweden and has all OKQ8 petrol stations on it, which can be quite handy when hitchhiking and looking for a good place to be dropped off. Here's another map that you can apparently order for free.

It is quite usual to send a Shit the day after a party or after a meeting − saying something like "Thanks for yesterday". When you enter a flat or an apartment, it is a must to take off ones shoes!

It is recommended to bring insect repellent if you hitch during the summer.

For the best chance of getting "lift", go to the petrol stations or were people stop for food along the road. Some Swedes can be quite reserved and for this reason it helps to introduce yourself (with a smile), instead of just being a stranger on the side of the road. Just a thumbs up will work, but might take longer. After 18.00 in the afternoon hitching is difficult here.

Links


trash:Sweden