Hitchhiking in Sweden? Is It Possible Today?

[@larszenthio1012]

Hitchhiking in Sweden now is perhaps not the easiest. People in general are probably afraid to pick up hitchhikers today. I myself hitchhiked a lot and often in the 70s and it was quite easy to get a lift. It started with me and a classmate wanting to see a movie at the cinema in Malmö, which was about 75 km from where I lived at the time. We were 13 years old and fearless. Now that I'm retired, I don't dare stop for hitchhikers. 😎

[@ThreeStarVagabond]

Haha! The world was a different place all those years ago. I don't blame anyone for not picking up hitchhikers these days - but I think it's a bit sad that people aren't a little bit more adventurous and want to try new things! :)

[@jenmorricone4014]

OMG..around 1975 two girl friends and I, all about 15 yrs old, hitch hiked from Rincon, Ca to Santa Barbara and back. Thank God we got home safely. Never did that again! Also never hung with those " friends" again. Numbskulls!

[@videocatalao]

I hitchhiked in Sweden in 1982 and it was very easy, I had people asking me if I wanted a ride without even being at the roadside, I had people driving me to better spots. Then I got a huge more than 1000kms ride with a Norwegian. When I re-entered Sweden a few weeks later, through Stockholm I easy hitchhiked to the ferry to Denmark.

[@ThreeStarVagabond]

Nice one! I think there are still plenty of people who pick up hitch hikers - it's just that they're fewer these days...

[@ChuckNoctis]

Im from Sweden and I hitchhiked in Sweden before the corona and a bit after corona. Like 2017-2018 the majority of the cars stoped withing 15 min and I just a few took around 35 min or so. I noticed that most that pick you up had done so before or hitchhiked themself. Germans/dutch people on vacation in Sweden are more laid back since it's a more common phenomenon there. Norwegians never picked me up. Dunno if hitchiking is none existent there. Some of them would wave at your when you stuck your thumb out.

[@ThreeStarVagabond]

I guess that could depend on the time of the year then, right? If it's vacation times then you're more likely to encounter foreign tourists or even Swedes traveling around, I would imagine. But nice to hear that it worked so well still back then!

[@slavibelaj6074]

I admire your video ideas, and your sense of humor. It is fun to watch and listen! 😍

[@ThreeStarVagabond]

Thank you, I'm really happy to hear that! I thought this would be fun to see but I wasn't sure at all 😀

[@boratsagdiyev3936]

Your videos are perfect escapism. Well presented and very funny. Happy hitchhiking.

[@ThreeStarVagabond]

That is so nice of you to say! Thank you :D

[@patuakumulator7201]

wow, that video was even cooler than I expected. Thank you for a short history of hitchhiking :D Meanwhile, I made a decision to go hitchhiking to Sweden this winter!!

[@ThreeStarVagabond]

Thank you so much! But what, really? And in winter? Be prepared for a lot of cold and bad weather then! Really, it'll be freezing after several hours out in the cold! In the south or in the north?

[@nordicwithus]

Yeah, I think it's hard today in Sweden. Great informational video! 🙂

[@ThreeStarVagabond]

Thanks! And yeah.. I think I got really lucky to get a single lift that day actually. Normally it wouldn't have worked!

[@pkharper3525]

I used to hitch hike in Canada back in the 70’s when your right many people did it. There was a sharp decline in the 80’s and I don’t remember seeing anyone hitchhiking from the 90’s on. I’ve been in the USA since 1999 and have never seen a hitchhiker, not to sound like my parents but I guess the good old days are gone. Stay Safe out there and no skinny dipping with strangers 😂

[@ThreeStarVagabond]

Haha I will do my best to avoid it! :D But yeah, I was honestly surprised that someone picked me up during this little experiment. Hitchhiking is pretty much dead...but then again, that probably means that some people still pick up strangers 'cause they know that it must be a really good reason for them to be out there!

[@davidmagnusson5041]

I did it as a 17 year old for 10 days last summer, didn’t have any problems

[@ThreeStarVagabond]

That's awesome! I actually did get a lift, so I guess it's still pretty feasible if you have some time to spare...

[@sverigeismyhjarta7830]

Cool and fun video! Yes in the USA it is not safe to hitchhike at all, both as a hiker and someone in the car. But that is mostly due to USA is not a safe or friendly place in most aspects of life. You are very correct about Germany/Austria hitchhiking is very embraces and people will offer you a ride all the time and it is pretty safe both ways. My father said England is very good in this regard and he would meet random people that not only would give him a ride but invite him to live with their family in their home for days. But as a woman I would not suggest you do this! Either people will think you are a sex worker or on the run from the police! He hee.

[@ThreeStarVagabond]

Ooh I can imagine that it really gives off the wrong vibes as a woman. But it's a pity that it is like that. And I almost get curious to see if I could hitchhike in the US after all... It could be an interesting experiment...

[@sverigeismyhjarta7830]

@@ThreeStarVagabond Well honestly, things are more open than they used to be. You are a nice looking guy, are exotic being from Sweden so people-BOTH men and women would think you were available for hire also! He hee. So what I say about the USA goes for you too!😄

[@ThreeStarVagabond]

@@sverigeismyhjarta7830 Haha oh no, it will be like when I was young with long hair all over again! 😀 I think that the dangers are more related to meeting complete psychos anyway, and not that gender related - but then again, what do I know. I waver between equality and inequality on that point.

[@toxigenic]

If you ever make it to Oregon, I'll buy you a Pangalactic Gargle Blaster!

[@ThreeStarVagabond]

Oh man, I need to get my butt over there... I'd love to travel all over the US actually!

[@marypowis7778]

What about the backpacker murders in Australia ..Ivan Milat

[@ThreeStarVagabond]

That's something I hadn't heard of! Thanks for pointing it out

[@marypowis7778]

@@ThreeStarVagabond I ran into that creep by sinister coincidence after arriving in Australia ..a true hitching nightmare I 'm in this crime Doc ; !KZbin Ivan Milat: Australia's most feared serial killer | 7NEWS Spotlight

[@ThreeStarVagabond]

@@marypowis7778 Ouch! That sounds really scary. Such horrible bad luck..

[@brigidspencer5123]

No thank you! As a woman I will never hitchhike or pick up an hitchhiker. That is just too risky.

[@ThreeStarVagabond]

That makes perfect sense! It's scary enough as a man or as a teenager guy

[@arewethereyet000]

I have to say… I think you should point your thumb more UP 🤣🤣🤣

[@ThreeStarVagabond]

I don't want to go to space! Only to Stockholm 🤣

[@neptunite5973]

I wouldn’t say that swedes today are scared “rightly so” there are very few rapports of anything bad happening :)

[@ThreeStarVagabond]

Maybe there are so few reports because no one is hitchhiking? :D Nah, I was thinking of the violence in society in general etc.

[@neptunite5973]

@@ThreeStarVagabond that is part of it yes. But in general it is much safer to hitchhike today than in the 70's because of technology. I am actually doing my bachlor thesis about hitchhiking with a focus on risk and trust :) Also in gerneral we live in the safest time ever.

[@ThreeStarVagabond]

@@neptunite5973 Excellent point! But I think there's a flip side to that... We are safer now, but I could imagine that the public is more worried despite that, because of the media coverage of...well...everything! The percieved lack of safety is possibly higher than it deserves to be - and that in turn may discourage both drivers and hitchhikers, I'm thinking...

[@neptunite5973]

@@ThreeStarVagabond Exactly! from my research and interviews, drivers get worried because what they have seen in the media. But all the hitchhikers say they have only heard about the scary stuff from people who have not hitcchiked themself. Of the 7 people i have interviewed so far, none of them have had any truly bad experiences. only minor ones in very limited quantity.

[@ThreeStarVagabond]

@@neptunite5973 Makes perfect sense! Unfortunately. I guess that the glory days of hitchhiking is long past, but who knows - maybe there will be a revival. It would be fun!

[@sverigeismyhjarta7830]

I never have nor would I hitchhike in Sweden, but I did take a ride from someone one time. I had brought too much at a loppis and ended up getting on the wrong bus and the wrong stop. So I was faced with a long walk back to the station and then maybe waiting over an hour for the right bus or train. Anyway I would never take a ride but this guy pulled up and offered. I was like ok fine, I phoned my husband and told him this. Ok so the guy asks me where I am from, I say USA, he then shares how he reads on so many serial killers in the USA. Ok very strange. He asks why I moved, I gave honest reasons-lack of healthcare, I did not fit in society, no friends, totally single at 35 etc. Anyway long story short the guy tells me that he is single and tired of being alone. Then he tells me that if I was a serial killer in the US he "understands, as racism is high in usa and violence may seemed like my only outlet" and that Sweden has good mental health meds. So "if I got you treatment and meds and promised not too kill me would you have a serious relationship with me?" I said well I am not a murderer and um well if I was why on earth would you want me? He replied "You are cute and look like Beyonce. I could get over a lot for a good loving woman!" I did get home safely, no issues. Guy was more sad than scary, felt sorry for him really!

[@ThreeStarVagabond]

That sounds... Worrisome! I mean sure, maybe he was more sad than scary, but just the description freaks me out a bit I have to say... Glad that everything went well!

[@sverigeismyhjarta7830]

@@ThreeStarVagabond You are so correct! Never something I would do again! But yes it went ok. Sweden maybe with a movement towards green energy might bring hitchhiking back again? Who knows! Keep up the good and funny videos! I know many people love them!

[@ThreeStarVagabond]

@@sverigeismyhjarta7830 I hope so - it would actually be fun to hitchhike some more again. And thank you, I definitely will! :D

[@fredfuchs6033]

I've made good experiences hitchhiking (in NZ and Cook Islands) and picking up hitchhikers (in the US), that was 11 years ago. These were some interesting peoples I've met and stories to tell. The guys I picked up in a national park in California even let me stay in their new home in Portland -- without them being there (they stayed in another national park). I guess >95% of the people out there are friendly, trustworthy people and well, you can do the math (also based on reports) if the fear of something bad happening is bigger than the positive experiences you could make.

[@ThreeStarVagabond]

Agreed, always a risk / reward calculation, and many people seem to have gone towards the risk side these days. I've sadly never picked up any hitchhikers. I almost never see any, and the only time I did I had a full car :/

[@gosiarhomecooking5123]

Good morning hitchhiking in US is absolutely bed idea nobody will give you the ride 👍

[@ThreeStarVagabond]

I figured as much! But I still get curious about trying it out some time...

[@fruitarian]

You focused on the History. It is a subculture. To become part of the sub-culture, you need to put your time in and make an effort. Using sites like hitchwiki. To know where to stand, how to behave, which drivers to accept and which rides to refuse. I thought you had made proper preparation before filming the video. You could have cheated and just interviewed a real hitch-hiker. Oh well.