A Kinder, Gentler Way Through France
Hitchhiking, to an American, is like telling your kids to go play in traffic. It just isn't done. We all talk about some mythic "good old days" when it may have been safer, but with a nod of agreement, we concur that, well, that safe time has long passed. So is it any wonder American tourists react with a mix of surprise and horror when they hear about - and see - throngs of American backpackers thumbing their way across France regularly? Shouldn't we "know better" than those crazy French, who do it frequently and with such a flagrant absence of common sense?
Well, forget about hitchhiking in America. It probably isn't safe, and since so many people think so, even if you're the most harmless looking person in the world, you're going to wait a long, long time for a ride. But in France, the allostop or autostop, as hitchhiking is known, is alive and well. And if you're smart, well-prepared and flexible enough, you can save a few dollars while enriching your cultural and geographic journey in France.
Here's the disclaimer: I've done it. I've enjoyed it. I'd do it again. At times I thought some of the people who picked me up were crazy (a woman with two young children), but I always appreciated the generosity. I viewed a ride as receiving a gift of someone's goodwill, and it renewed my faith in humanity and the arbitrariness of cultural borders. Hitchhiking led me to great side trips and unexpected treasures. BUT... If you're in France on your own, you're old enough to take responsibility for your actions. So don't try it if you don't want to. Don't assume from reading this article that every person who offers you a ride will be safe, and use your own careful judgment. With that out of the way, let's get to the details:
How does it work? Two organizations online offer travelers some kind of assistance, which may not help depending on the cyber factor you maintain while traveling. The basics are this: You post a message with where you want to travel, and someone will contact you if they are going there or nearby. You'll be expected to chip in for expenses, of course, but the costs will probably be much lower than rental cars or trains or, if they're available, buses to your destination. See (http://www.ecritel.fr/allostop/, http://www.imaginet.fr/SDC/stop/ ) if you are interested in exploring these French-only sites.
Latest Articles