Bio-Female Hitching Alone? | Squat the Planet

Bio-Female Hitching Alone?

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rideitlikeyoustoleit

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So, I saw that there was an old post about this, but I'm curious for opinions.

In mid july I am taking a friend of mine hitch hiking up through out the north west. He has to be back in early august for work, and so do I...unless I decide "fuck it" and just plan on not coming back, which is what I want to do.

However, this will mean hitching solo, as a female, and I am not sure that this is a very good idea. My reason for being solo, is because not a lot of friends that are in my area right now are people that I nessesarily want to travel with. Granted, they are my friends, but they are also a little on the "scummy" side (i mean no offense by this, that is a self description some of my friends use) and I am a alcohol free vegan. Although I am somewhat what you could describe as "PC", I have a sense of humor about things, it's jsut that I think I would prefer to travel with someone more on my page. you know how that goes.

I really want to leave and go have fun and explore, and since hitchhiking is what I have the most experience doing I would like to stick with it, but I kind of have to make up my mind now. So, opinions?
 

Angela

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I have hitched a lot on and off over the years and most of it has always been solo, however not completely solo since I've frequently had either my current or previous four legged travel buddy with me but not always since for several years after my previous dog passed away I didn't have one.
There's definitely things you gotta be more careful about when going solo such as being very selective about what rides you accept and it's probably not for lots of folks. Traveling with someone else is not always any guarantee of safety though, if you want proof of that go read Arrows scary story of hitching through Montana. Personally though I've found that confidence, a big mace canister and sometimes a protective four legged friend are far better travel companions for hitching than another person but a lot of folks don't tend to agree with me.
 

stove

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Though I am a guy, I've hitched for the past two years pretty consistently, and i'd say yeah, Confidence is wicked important. A few good self defense classes or a big can o mace wouldn't hurt...
 

panik

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I have traveled alone a whole bunch and to be honest I have had A LOT of really scary experiences, but all of them were like "close calls" where I wasn't exactly hurt but really close. I've been attacked a few times but got out of the situation quickly enough, been forced to get out of a vehicle in the middle of nowhere because people were being super sketchy, and basically (at least) half of the rides when I'm alone mention sex.
I'd advise trains if you're gonna be alone, for sure!!! Personally I'd rather walk around a trainyard or even a sketchy neighborhood alone than be stuck in someone's vehicle where someone else has so much control of the situation.

definitely definitely have weapons! I personally don't trust myself to be able to stab someone if shit hit the fan so I'd prefer mace (though lately I have traveled alone with NO weapons at all...just a dog...so dumb!!!).
I don't know, I stay extremely alert and at any mention of sex or any creepy vibes I start mentally planning my course of action in the given situation.
It's dangerous, not necessarily smart...sucks to say it but there is definitely a much greater risk of danger if yer a girl.

On the other hand getting rides is a snap and people give you stuff. I guess being a "poor, defenseless, homeless girl alone" makes people feel sympathy toward you. Haha...stupid but true!
 

Matt Derrick

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my first response is to say don't do it! it terrifies me to think of all the creeps there are out there just waiting to prey on someone like yourself. yeah, it really sucks, it sucks balls that a woman cant travel alone without being harrassed on the bus much less in a more comprimising position like hitchhiking. you have to keep in mind that there have been waaay too many pornos made about girls hitchhiking alone and "all they want is sex" and somehow this really does translate into men's minds in reality, and i really feel like your odds of getting attacked are going to be extremely high.

yeah, it's bullshit that you can't hitchhike without a friend to help even the odds (whether they're male or female), but that's just the unfortunate state of our society. it's like how black people should have been able to sit whereever they want on the bus 50 years ago, but they couldn't because our society just wasn't that evovled yet. it sucks, but it's true.

id have to agree with the trainhopping deal. it's way easier to do alone, and you have practically no one thats going to harrass you in any way (at least not in the same way when hitchhiking).

id say trainhop if possible, (i can give you super detailed info about roseville) or take a bus to where you can meet up with someone you'd be interested in hitching with.
 

Matt Derrick

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whats a bio-female?

bio-female is a reference to being biologically female. this is opposed to identifying as transgendered or for example, a woman, yet being 'biologically' male. but as i like to say, fuck gender boundaries :D
 

psychoviolinist

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the only accurate location is australia :p
bio-female is a reference to being biologically female. this is opposed to identifying as transgendered or for example, a woman, yet being 'biologically' male. but as i like to say, fuck gender boundaries :D

Amen to that! :cheers:<---- (dumpstered apple juice!)
 

veggieguy12

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If you have a cell phone, you can always use that trick to casually mention that you took a photo of the driver's license plate and sent the pic to someone. The implication being that if you disappeared, that pic would go to the pigs who'd track down that driver.
Probably becomes an obvious lie if you have to dig through your bag to get your phone out, but otherwise it seems to me that it would straighten out a mild creeper.

My ex-GF hitched from Reno, NV into Chico, CA; the driver seemed alright when she got in, then he put a gun on his lap for the ride, and kept talking about how he was once an emergency volunteer against the wildfires, and along that road were all sort of holes where nobody would ever look (hint, hint), repeatedly asking her something along the lines of "What would you do if I pulled over and raped you?" or other similar bullshit to just be an intimidating fuckhead, always following up with, "I wouldn't do that".

I thought that it might put an end to it to just confidently and coolly respond, "I'd think about how when I didn't arrive in Chico to meet my friends, my family would take that pic I sent from my phone, of your license plate, over to the cops, and that the cops would find you really quick and throw you in prison to be ass-fucked a million times."
 
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finn

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bio-female is a reference to being biologically female. this is opposed to identifying as transgendered or for example, a woman, yet being 'biologically' male. but as i like to say, fuck gender boundaries :D

I've also heard cis-female instead, which makes more sense if you're familiar with chemistry since cis and trans are two different molecular configurations of what would otherwise be the same chemical compound..
 
R

rideitlikeyoustoleit

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Oh wow, thanks for all the responses folks. Um...I think I've decided not to go it alone. Which is okay, I'll just work on starting an info shop here in town until I find a rad person who wants to tromp around the country with me.
 

soymilkshakes

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yeah, it really sucks, it sucks balls that a woman cant travel alone without being harrassed on the bus much less in a more comprimising position like hitchhiking.

True that. I've thought vaguely of hitching alone but man, I can't even walk home alone at night without getting harassed/followed/etc. Bullshit.
 

JonnyNothings

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I've always hitched alone and yes confidence is key. I'm only a 5'3 little guy and it wouldn't be hard for problems to arise in the ride I choose. It's all based on judge of character. But yes when going solo its best to have a dog (it maybe nice but look mean) or a can a bear/pepper spray or even a "Trucker be good stick" (re-bar, bamboo) anything you can cut small and not to heavy to slip in your pack or to your leg.
But good luck and stay safe.
 
M

Mouse

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I just never felt comfortable hitching alone. female or not I need someone around to make me feel safe, if in the least less bored. When I'm alone I get all distressed about the dumbest things but if someone is around I can feel a little more at peace.

for me, I'm saving up to get a car once I get my driver's lisence back. I'm done with depending on strangers.. time to make my own way out :)
 

pola negri

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i concur with the consensus here, hitching as a solo female sucks. hitching alone sucks in general. well actually...just the idea of hitching anywhere, with anyone sucks.

but i've done it and it can be a last-resort option. choose your rides carefully (i say no most of the time), ask them where they're going before they ask you, prepare to be evasive with confident nerves of steel, and be prepared to get all ninja-style on them if they try to pull anything (carrying mace and a visible cell phone helps). carry your gear in your lap or at your feet. casually mention that someone is waiting for you wherever it is you're going. call your dad to just say hi (this works really well!). film them. etc.

i wouldn't think twice about hitching alone in places like northern california, but florida or texas? eh, not so much.
 
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RebeccaSoup

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Ive done a good bit of solo hitching in the pacific northwest, its a lot different from hitching with a male or in a group, but the quality of rides is a lot better ie: getting where your going faster..

If you know yourself well enough to kick ass if needed, and know how to turn down short/sketchy rides.. things work out. It is goddamn liberating, thats for sure.
 

dirty_rotten_squatter

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Yeah I'm a guy traveling and I don't care what other people think I travel with a can of pepper spray in my pocket, shit. when my life could be on the line ill bite scratch pull hair pee on you, whatever. No shame in wanting to live!
 

compass

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There are some very serious risks, and others have done a good job expressing that, and it should be considered seriously and kept in your mind, but it isn't like an attack is inevitable. A young woman I used to date has hitchhiked all over by herself, including WEST AFRICA, and has never been attacked. Like Stove said, confidence is a big factor. Be practical, cautious, but don't let fear rule your life, especially if it's hitching the NW, which is like a traveler's Disneyland. You'll probably just end up getting a bunch of lecture rides ("you know, you really shouldn't be out here doing this, it's dangerous, you never know who might pick you up, I only picked you up to make sure you're safe, blah, blah, blah...").

Don't EVER pull a knife unless you are going to use it, and only if you have some knowledge and practice of how to use it. Otherwise, it will just end up being used on you. Pepper spray/mace is a good choice, but can also get you too, especially within the confines of a vehicle. Practice with that stuff too.

The cell phone pic is a really good idea, to actually do, not just say you did.
 
M

Mouse

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in all honestly.. I don't find it that "unsafe" but just dull and uncomfortable.

perverts are generally subdued pretty easy. you just shoot them down and they tend to curl up and die on the inside. think about it.. they are so insecure that they want to hit on some extreamly dirty probably hasn't bathed in a few weeks chick who's hitching down 95... it obviously doens't take much to make them feel insignificant. lol.
 

Linda/Ziggy

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hey bio sister !!

I've hitched throught the USA and Uk for about 30 years, since I was 14.

I've never once been attacked or molested !

Just don't feed the fear or get your head in a fear space,
be careful of course.
Just don't live in fear.

I'm about to start hitching with my old man and
more worried we won't get rides !!

Good luck sister !!
 

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