Review: Why You Should Hitchhike
Wonderful article on “Why you should hitchhike.”
Nico Lethbridge’s article argues that hitchhiking still has a place in the modern world, despite our fears about stranger danger.
On a single trip to Aberdeen last month, I met a former bomb disposal soldier turned heart mechanic, Palestinian refugees, a lorry driver who’d been a modern slave, a recovering drug addict, two academics who’d spent the day in a septic tank… and too many others to list.
Nico Lethbridge: “Why you should hitchhike“
The author highlights that hitchhiking is environmentally friendly (Britain alone has 47 million empty car seats during rush hour) and offers real adventure without long-haul flights. But the real value goes deeper. Hitchhiking provides a free education about the world that you simply can’t get in a classroom. When you’re picked up by strangers, you meet people from all walks of life – former soldiers, refugees, lorry drivers, academics – and each conversation offers a unique perspective. It’s like reading a good novel, where you realise that everyone has their own rich, complex inner life.
The article explores how hitchhiking activates the same reward circuits in your brain as other pleasurable experiences, but with an added bonus. Because it involves pro-social behaviour and empathy, the positive feeling lingers long after the ride ends. More importantly, it challenges our default fear of strangers, cultivated by decades of “stranger danger” campaigns and Hollywood horror stories. Research shows that when people connect with strangers – whether on their commute or ordering coffee – they feel happier and more fulfilled.
Lethbridge acknowledges the risks, but notes you’re statistically more likely to be a crime victim walking down a London street than hitchhiking. Most hitchhikers find the benefits of connecting with people and trusting humanity far outweigh the risks. The author concludes that in difficult times, there’s solace on the road, talking to strangers and realising we’re not alone in this world – just separated by a car door.
