First German Hitching Spot

Hitch hiking is cheap

Increasing oil price, raised prices for public transport, omission of bus and train services - mobility is becoming more expensive and less accessible. Many people can't afford a car anymore and bus&train go less frequently while ticket prices are being raised. Hitch hiking imposes an alternative, the possibility to travel on a tight budget. The range of possibilities - flights, car, bus, train, ride sharing are complemented.

Hitch hiking is flexibility

Contrary to travelling by bus, train, or ride sharing, hitch hiking can actually be started - and stopped - anytime, and anywhere. This offers the possibility to move and plan just the way the hitchhiker likes.

Hitch hiking is ecological

Hitch hiking leads to the use of cars which would drive anyhow. Comparing to the trip by own car, ressources are saved in double sense:
First, there are less cars driving, and
Second, this way the traffic is floating better, which reduces the cars' consumption of fuel.

Hitch hiking is safe

When hitch hiking, the driver can decide, whom to take, and the hitchhiker can decide, which car s/he gets in. It is much easier for offenders to find victims in an empty train cabin or through ride sharing websites. Victims need to use the train or the shared car as planned before - hitchhikers rather take the next car when having a bad feeling.

Current situation and problems

Hitchhikers from Berlin who want to go east, west, or south, try to do so at the gas stations Grunewald, Michendorf, or already today at the B2 in Potsdam.

Grunewald gas station: Relatively easy to reach, this site often lacks of success. Only few cars stop, and even fewer go in the desired direction.
Michendorf gas station: Very successful place, but hard to access. By train or bus the hitchhiker arrives at Michendorf train station. From there it takes about half an hour to the highway and then some hundreds of metres along the highway. This is tiring and also dangerous.
B2/Leipziger Strasse: The central station is accessible by bus, tram, S-Bahn, or regional trains; from there, it's just some metres to Leipziger Strasse. The high volume of traffic promises success, but also hinders cars from stopping safely. For this reason, hitchhikers often choose different positions, so car drivers don't exactly know where they could stand, and stopping becomes impossible in many cases.

How could a hitching spot improve the current situation?

1. The security will reach an acceptable measure. Cars could stop in the lay-by and get back into the traffic without problems. Hitchhikers don't have to step onto the street to enter the car.
2. Nearly all hitchhikers from Potsdam and Berlin will stand on this spot, and not choose different sites anymore, as this place is just easy to reach. This gives an orientation for hitchhikers who don't need to use dangerous ways or spots as well as for drivers who are prepared for hitchhikers waiting at this certain place.
3. This will be the first hitching spot in Germany, carrying an announcement affect. Potsdam could profit from an image as progressive city, leading the way for others.

Even if somebody might be against hitch hiking: There will always be hitch hikers, and we want to increase the security for all those involved!