Illinois hitchhiking...

soapybum

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Oct 16, 2011
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So out of 6 hours of trying to hitchhike in IL (lil south of Chicago on 57) I get told by a cop that hitchhiking is illegal in IL, and my sign is taken away. Then I look up the law and find out it's not illegal, continue to try to hitchhike w/ a new sign for 4 hours in an area with constant traffic and I have less than 10 ppl even look at me with some interest/concern. Fuck Illinois.
 



State Laws on Hitchhiking in Illinois (IL) (Laws)

Submitted Thu, Feb 19, 2004 by elguero

(625 ILCS 5/11-1006) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-1006)
Sec. 11-1006. Pedestrians soliciting rides or business.
(a) No person shall stand in a roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride from the driver of any vehicle.

(625 ILCS 5/1-179) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1-179)
Sec. 1-179. Roadway.
That portion of a highway improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the berm or shoulder. [...]

Translation: It is legal to hitchhike from the berm or shoulder.

Also, Illinois reserves the right to prohibit pedestrian traffic on limited-access highways, such as interstates.
 
Well, Illinois is a little tough for hitching, due both to the gigantic size of Chicago & a midwestern culture that's generally a tad cold toward outsiders. Try to get to an onramp at an exit with a truck stop, and if you can, verify with google street view beforehand to be sure the spot has ample viewing distance and space to pull over. You may have to take half a day's worth of buses and suburban trains just to get to a decent spot. Inner-city hitching is challenging, but it can be done if one's spot is well chosen.