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10 by 10 - Car stops
4 June, 2009 - 10:38
There needs to be a substantial drop in car use. Hitchhiking can provide an additional way to encourage car sharing and reduce car use.
One problem with hitchhiking is security concerns. This could be addressed by having suitably located pickup points with CCTV cameras to give additional security. This would allow a person’s movements and the identity of the car that picked them up to be traced if needed.
It would also make hitchhiking more socially acceptable as there would not be the need to thumb a lift, it would be more like waiting for a bus at a bus stop.
The car stops could be located in urban areas to encourage use for short local journeys, and also at appropriate spots on major roads. Similarly, legislation could be changed to allow pickup and drop off points on motorway slip roads.
Hitchhiking can provide a very flexible and easy way to travel, unlike current car share schemes which can be useful for regular commutes, but rarely work for occasional or short notice journeys.
Hitchhiking is obviously a silly idea - it’s just not done nowadays! These would be lift share pickup points.
There are already car share clubs and web sites, however things are complicated by having to prearrange shares. Having lift share pickup points (they could be similar to bus stop signs but larger to be easily seen by motorists) at key points on main roads and motorway junctions can allow for impromptu and spontaneous lift sharing.