User:Fverhart

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   N o t e:  t h i s  i s  t h e  b e s t  a r t i c l e  o n  H i t c h w i k i!
Liftend.jpg

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 18, 2009 the total distance covered by hitchhiking amounted to 51,112.5 kilometres, a total of 943 rides, 14,740 minutes wait (245.7 hr / 10.2 days), average distance 54.2 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 18, 2009
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 1,312.0 km 10 131.2 km 0.11
total 51,112.5 km 943 54.2 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.

Hhall.jpg

Per country

The last available accurate update of an overview of all distances hitchhiked per country dates from January 1, 2009. 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.

distances per country As of January 1, 2009
country rides distance avg distance share wait avg wait / ride avg wait / km
150px-Flag of the Netherlands.svg.png The Netherlands 519 20,248.0 km 39.0 km 40.7 % 6,468.0 mins 12.5 mins 0.32 mins
167px-Flag of Germany.svg.png Germany 107 17,485.5 km 163.4 km 31.9 % 3,415.5 mins 31.9 mins 0.20 mins
150px-Flag of Belgium.svg.png Belgium 120 4,984.5 km 41.5 km 10.0 % 1,803.5 mins 15.0 mins 0.36 mins
160px-Flag of Poland.svg.png Poland 111 4,878.5 km 44.0 km 9.8 % 1,774.0 mins 16.0 mins 0.36 mins
150px-Flag of the Czech Republic.svg.png Czech Republic 33 698.0 km 21.2 km 1.4 % 405.0 mins 12.3 mins 0.58 mins
150px-Flag of Slovakia.svg.png Slovakia 9 649.0 km 72.1 km 1.3 % 271.0 mins 30.1 mins 0.42 mins
150px-Flag of Austria.svg.png Austria 4 331.5 km 82.9 km 0.7 % 110.0 mins 27.5 mins 0.33 mins
167px-Flag of Luxembourg.svg.png Luxembourg 19 305.0 km 16.1 km 0.6 % 236.0 mins 12.4 mins 0.77 mins
150px-Flag of France.svg.png France 9 199.0 km 22.1 km 0.4 % 101.0 mins 11.2 mins 0.51 mins
Flag Ukraine.png Ukraine 2 14.0 km 7.0 km 0.0 % 15.0 mins 7.5 mins 1.07 mins
167px-Flag of Lithuania.svg.png Lithuania 0 6.5 km #DIV/0! km 0.0 % 3.0 mins #DIV/0! mins 0.46 mins
total 933 49,799.5 km 53.4 km 100.0 % 14,602 mins 15.7 mins 0.29 mins


<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.

Hhbenelux.jpg


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).

Hhmaastrichtregion.jpg


Impression of hitchhiking routes in Maastricht and its near vicinity.

Hhmaastricht.jpg


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.

Hhgermany.jpg


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.

Hhpoland.jpg


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.

Hhczech.jpg


Routes that we hitchhiked in Sumava National Park (Czech Republic) in July 2005.

Hhsumava.jpg


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!

Hhslovakia.jpg


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!

Hhaustria.jpg


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.

Hhfrance.jpg


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.

Hhukraine.jpg


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).

Hhlithuania.jpg

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 September 13, 2009.

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 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
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.

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 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 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 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 three times I did about thousand kilometres, which 13, 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.

Fverhartspotseurope.jpg

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.

FverhartspotsNL.jpg

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.

FverharttankstellenNL.jpg

Petrol station top 10

This table contains an overview of the petrol stations that I have used most often, including several statistics per station.

Petrol stations top 10 As of October 19, 2009
country motorway petrol station name near town number of lifts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
150px-Flag of the Netherlands.svg.png A2 De Lucht-West Zaltbommel 15 17-18 1186 79.1 3.59 0.16 14 140 0.02 1.35 12.1
150px-Flag of the Netherlands.svg.png A2 Het Anker Born 15 46-47 394 26.2 2.44 0.11 25 30 0.01 0.25 25.0
150px-Flag of the Netherlands.svg.png A2 Bosserhof Echt 9 45-44 739 82.1 1.13 0.08 35 155 0.03 0.20 6.0
150px-Flag of the Netherlands.svg.png A2 Velder Liempde 9 26-27 818 90.8 1.35 0.11 57 120 0.01 0.30 7.0
150px-Flag of the Netherlands.svg.png A2 Groote Bleek Maarheeze 9 36-35 432 48.0 3.40 0.24 14 128 0.05 1.30 30.6
150px-Flag of the Netherlands.svg.png A76 Tienbaan Bocholtz 8 n.a. 1525 190.6 7.40 0.58 59 640 0.10 2.15 18.1
167px-Flag of Germany.svg.png A4 Frechen Sud Frechen 6 9-10 1593 265.5 5.35 0.56 47 596 0.20 2.00 12.6
150px-Flag of the Netherlands.svg.png A2 De Kruisberg Meerssen 6 52-51 450 75.0 0.55 0.07 20 130 0.05 0.20 7.3
150px-Flag of the Netherlands.svg.png A79 "Heerlen" Heerlen 6 n.a. 160 26.7 0.48 0.08 16 22 0.01 0.20 18.0
167px-Flag of Germany.svg.png A10 Michendorf Sud Michendorf 5 18-17 420 84.0 1.50 0.22 33 207 0.05 0.50 15.7
150px-Flag of Belgium.svg.png A26 Aire de Noidre Sprimont 5 44-45 418 83.6 1.30 0.18 35 155 0.05 0.50 12.9
150px-Flag of the Netherlands.svg.png A73 Lokkant Haps 5 5-6 364 72.8 1.07 13.4 23 123 0.02 0.30 11.0
150px-Flag of the Netherlands.svg.png A2 Haarrijn Maarssen 5 5-6 328 65.6 1.35 0.19 29 141 0.10 0.35 17.3

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.

Petrol stations top 10 As of October 19, 2009
country motorway petrol station name near town total distance 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
167px-Flag of Germany.svg.png A4 Frechen Sud Frechen 1593 km 9-10 6 265.5 5.35 0.56 47 596 0.20 2.00 12.6
150px-Flag of the Netherlands.svg.png A76 Tienbaan Bocholtz 1525 km n.a. 8 190.6 7.40 0.58 59 640 0.10 2.15 18.1
150px-Flag of the Netherlands.svg.png A2 De Lucht-West Zaltbommel 1186 km 17-18 15 79.1 3.59 0.16 14 140 0.02 1.35 12.1
160px-Flag of Poland.svg.png A4 Proszkow (P) Proszkow 1032 km n.a. 1 1032.0 1.00 1.00 1032.0 1032.0 1.00 1.00 3.5
160px-Flag of Poland.svg.png A4 Bielany Wroclawski Polnoc Wroclaw 974 km n.a. 2 487.0 1.40 0.50 92 882 0.50 0.50 6.2
150px-Flag of the Netherlands.svg.png A2 Velder Liempde 818 km 26-27 9 90.8 1.35 0.11 57 120 0.01 0.30 7.0
150px-Flag of the Czech Republic.svg.png D1 "Novy Pavov" Jilhava 797 km n.a. 1 797.0 2.00 2.00 797 797 2.00 2.00 9.0
150px-Flag of Belgium.svg.png A3 Aire de Tignee Sud Blegny 748 km 36-37 2 374.0 0.22 0.11 68 680 0.07 0.15 1.9
150px-Flag of the Netherlands.svg.png A2 Bosserhof Echt 739 km 45-44 9 82.1 1.13 0.08 35 155 0.03 0.20 6.0
167px-Flag of Germany.svg.png A4 Dresdner Tor Sud Huhndorf 701 km 72-X 3 233.7 0.21 0.07 67 480 0.01 0.10 1.8

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

# 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%
(incomplete)

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.