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Texas

5,241 bytes added, 08:05, 17 November 2023
Experiences
{{Infobox Location|country = United States|map = <map lat='31.541089879585808' lng='-99.2724609375' zoom='5' view/>|pop ='0' float27,695,284 (2015)|plate ='right'/>TEXAS'''Texas''' is a state of the |motorways = [[I-10]], [[I-20]], [[I-30]], [[I-40]], [[I-27]], [[I-35]], [[I-37]], [[United States of AmericaI-45]]. }}
Texans can often be individualists, meaning they will often see your lack of a vehicle as a personal failure. However, in addition to having an individualist culture, Texans also tend to be notoriously friendly and laid-back. "Southern Hospitality" lives, if you're willing to engage your rides regardless of their accents, their political ideologies, or whatever nonsense may be pasted on their bumpers.<p> ''Texas ''' is a massive state, with many of its residents having migrated from other states. Thus it is impossible to state anything "typical" of it. Additionally, there are many immigrants from Mexico, from whom you will receive many rides. The casual kindness of Mexicans can often be your salvation, and they'll just throw you in the back [[United States of the pickup without a second thought - maybe this is because hitchhiking is common in MexicoAmerica]].
Waits Texans can often be long in rural areasindividualists, and in some parts meaning they will often see your lack of the state (such a vehicle as West Texas), the distance between towns and the high speed limit can mean very long waitsa personal failure. However, in more populous rural areasaddition to having an individualist culture, Texans also tend to be notoriously friendly and laid-back. "Southern Hospitality" lives, short hop if you're willing to engage your rides regardless of their accents, their political ideologies, or whatever nonsense may be pasted on their bumpers.<p> Texas is a massive state, with many of its residents having migrated from other states. Thus it is impossible to state anything "typical" of it. Additionally, there are fairly availablemany immigrants from [[Mexico]], and lifts from old ladies whom you will receive many rides. The casual kindness of Mexicans can often be your salvation, and volunteer fire chiefs are not uncommonthey'll just throw you in the back of the pickup without a second thought. Maybe this is because hitchhiking is more common there
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== Roads ==
 
=== Shoulders ===
Very wide shoulders are built along the side of almost all highways, making it easy for people to pull over. [[Texas]] has some of the most abundant shoulders in the country.
 
=== Interchanges ===
[[split-traffic interchange|Split-traffic interchanges]] are unfortunately often found in the more urban areas of the central and eastern parts of the state, but are not common outside major metropolitan areas.
== Law ==
It is === Statute === https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.552.htm  Chapter 552.007. SOLICITATION BY PEDESTRIANS. (a) A person may not illegal stand in a roadway ''(see definition below)'' to hitchhike solicit a ride, contribution, employment, or business from an occupant of a vehicle, except that a person may stand in a roadway to solicit a charitable contribution if authorized to do so by the local authority having jurisdiction over the roadway.  Chapter 552.0071 For purposes of a solicitation under Subsection (a), a roadway is defined to include the roadbed, shoulder, median, curbs, safety zones, sidewalks, and utility easements located adjacent to or near the roadway. Although the previous version of this paragraph claimed the opposite, the above statute clearly states that hitchhiking in the state of Texasis illegal. In fact it is practice however, law enforcement in the state typically leave hitchhikers alone. As long as you aren't obstructing traffic or doing anything unsafe, you should be ok.  === Pedestrian Rights ===Pedestrian rights in [[Texas]] are among the friendliest in the country. Pedestrians are allowed on virtually every single road in [[Texas]] including interstates, with the exception of a few busy urban corridors. This makes Texas one of the few states where you can actually stand right on the side of the Interstate with your thumb out. Out  === Federal Districts ==='''Note''':All land regulated by the National Park service prohibits hitchhiking under the Code of perhaps a dozen police encounters Federal Regulations Title 36 section 4.31: Hitchhiking or soliciting transportation is prohibited ''except in Texas, they have never once tried to tell me not to hitchhike designated areas and have always offered to give me a ride--sometimes without even checking my Iunder conditions established by the superintendent.'' *Big Bend National Park4.D31 has not been amended here, so hitchhiking is prohibited.
== Experiences ==
:''Texas always gets a bad rap. I always had a good time, met plenty of friendly people, though i did more freight riding here then hitching. East Texas has a lot of hippies and was better for hitch than West Texas.'' - samson
:''I have hitched through every part of Texas at least once many, many times over the years. Cops can be terrible here. I have been arrested and ticketed multiple times for hitchhiking and have panhandling. STAY AWAY FROM AUSTIN AREA unless you want to say it be arrested, ticketed, and run out of all the towns around there. Hitchhiking is one above the national average on the other hand. People give out a lot of money here.'' - [[User:Thewindandrain|Thewindandrain]] 0:06:33, 6 March 2012 (CET) :''Most Texans were extremely friendly and helpful in my experience. Though the only trouble with the top 3 easiest states law I ever encountered hitchhiking was in Beaumont. The police officer was not happy when I corrected him about the actual legislation regarding hitchhiking and basically told me to hitchhike scram. Luckily, the first person I ran into at the nearby gas station gave me a ride :) As a single female, I was never waiting longer than twenty minutes, even coming out of big cities. One guy who picked me up in the whole countryPort Arthur couldn't take me anywhere, but called his friend who was going to my exact destination that afternoon. In Texas hill country And once a guy from Houston bought me dinner and a hotel room to stay for the panhandlenight. I was gifted a Bible from a theology student once, wait times and he said a really nice prayer for rides are usually very minimalme as well, even though he knew I wasn't religious it was still a nice gesture. A Texan once told me, "Texans can't say no," and in my experience, I'd say that's mostly true.'' - [[User:ThewindandrainJnadz|ThewindandrainJnadz]] 003:0625:3310, 6 29 March 2012 (CET) :''I've hitched too much of Texas too many times and ridden freight through as well. Your experience is really going to depend on gender, appearance, size of party, critters, etc. Friends and I have joked that people in Texas would rather give you money than a ride.'' :''Generally speaking, I've seen enough of the onramps along I-35 (no room to pull over) and Ft Worth cops. . Megabus is still cheap in TX in 2013, I would take it anywhere between the Ft Worth-Dallas metroplex and San Antonio. If you're a scruffy guy and comfortable with freight, the Sunset is an easier option than hitching I-10.'' -Shannon
:''Most Texans were extremely Texas definitely exceeded my expectations. The folks here are friendly and helpful in my experiencehospitable; none of that "You ain't from around here" stereotyping. Though the only trouble with the law I ever encountered hitchhiking was in BeaumontHitching is easy compared to neighboring states. The police officer was not happy when I corrected him about the actual legislation regarding hitchhiking and basically told me to scramMost locals work on oil rigs or ranches, so expect lots of working vehicles. Luckily'' -[[User:Dr.Keith|Keith]] If you are comfortable doing so, I recommend standing where an on-ramp meets the first person I ran into at highway itself (either on the nearby gas station gave me shoulder or grass) - something that is legal in texas. The sheer number of cars means you will get a ride :fairly quickly. Otherwise, ask at truck stops (ask truckers and regular cars). Pilot truck stops have free WiFi. The attendants are usually cool unless they think you're begging and/or scamming (something that people unfortunately see way too often and which can also make it difficult to get rides) As a single female, . I was never waiting longer than twenty minuteshad pretty decent luck, even coming out of big citiesmaking it over 1000 miles from Austin TX to Jacksonville FL in 2 days. One guy I met some very kind people (including one trucker who picked let me up sleep on the spare bunk in Port Arthur couldn't take me anywhere, his truck) but called his friend who was going to my exact destination that afternoonI also got asked for sex by 2 drivers in texas. And once Hitchhiking in the states is a guy from Houston bought real bummer for me dinner and because of the way people regard you - most assume you're a hotel room to stay for the nightbegger, criminal, prostitute or all 3. They never consider that you could be doing this by choice and after this trip I was gifted understand why riding freight is so popular. Definately agree with the comment above that people would rather give you money than a Bible from ride. That said, its definately possible to have great experiences; be polite, try to seem "wholesome" and throw in a theology student oncem'am/sir. As in other states, and he said a really nice prayer for lot of drivers told me they only gave me a ride as wella female alone, even though he knew I wasnand wouldn't religious it was still have picked up a man or a nice gesturecouple. A Texan once told me-Liz, "Texans can't say no," and in my experience, I'd say that's mostly true.''December 2017
=== Cities ===
* [[Austin (Texas)|Austin]]
* [[Abeline (Texas)|Abeline]]
* [[Dallas]]
* [[El Paso (Texas)|El Paso]]
* [[San Antonio (Texas)|San Antonio]]
* [[Midland (Texas)|Midland/Odessa]]
* [[Amarillo]]
* [[Waco (Texas)|Waco]]
 
 
2023, November.
 
From New Mexico to Louisiana, across the panhandle, along I-20, through DFW. Long waits. In my experience many truckers would not give rides out due to insurance reasons, the ones who were willing were not going east like me. So keep that in mind, although it may be different for you. Walking along the interstate, hitchin' is fine, just pray for a Mexican guy on his way to work to save you, they're practically the patron saint of hitchhikers in Texas, dudes called Jésus, Herman or Diego.
They give out a LOTTA money here. $120 for me, in two separate occasions. Folks are honest and friendly at gas stations. I experienced racism as an Asian male in East Texas, specifically near Tyler. Someone called the police on my hitchhiking, but he let me off without a ticket and gave me a ride. Nice guy.
 
== External links ==
* [[wikipedia:Texas|Wikipedia]]
* [[trash:Texas|Trashwiki]]
* [[nomad:Texas|Nomadwiki]]
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