We all know that hitch-hiking is a risk...but is it not a particulalry ecologically friendly activity...as those picking you up really are already going where they are going...so you are causing no extra pollution and possibly helping local people out if you offer a contribution?

When hearing of hitchiking in the media, yes, something bad has probably occurred owing to the risk, but just how high the risk is in regard to othertravel or activities, well that would be pretty hard to gauge.

S'pose there is eco value to it as against hiring a vehicle, but if buses/trains/planes are already going somewhere, getting a ticket could also be considered eco.

Maybe we should be travelling with the wind - www.7knots.com , pedalling bicycles or just walking.

I agree, the risks are hard to evaluate... as for the eco-value, sharing a ride is better than driving yourself, but as gonorth says, hitching a ride on mass transit has the same effect and without raising those safety concerns (hopefully, at least...!).

A lot of online sites offer ride-sharing, and in the UK they have been promoting it as a way to cut pollution and congestion. Whether it is any safer to hook up with a stranger online as opposed to on the road, well, that is still an unknowable.

Mary