Freakonomics Radio has a podcast out this morning about hitchhiking: what happened to it, and why it might solve some of our transportation problems. They interview Alan Pisarski, who is leading a TRB session on hitchhiking at the annual meeting in January. Definitely worth a listen.
I can’t imagine an era where hitchikers lined the roadways across the country, but I guess it existed.
For the record, I hitchhiked quite a bit as a missionary in Malaysia, and as a skier in Utah. As a missionary, it was a good way to meet people willing to trust me (plus I always had a companion). As a skier, once you get to the canyon you can be pretty sure that everyone is going to the same place you are.
I used to take long, meandering summer roadtrips with my Dad, and we occasionally picked up hitchhikers. We got to know some interesting people and places, and it was always safe.
A slugging scenario in Atlanta might be a great solution to the problem so many people are having with the new HOV3+/HOT lane on I-85. Also, there are already websites to set up ridesharing arrangements. The two below came up on quick Google search, and I’ve also seen people arranging carpools on Craigslist.
http://www.commuterchoice.com/atlanta/index.php?page=regional
http://www.erideshare.com/carpool.php?city=Atlanta