Hitching Sonoma's West-County
During August and September of 1997, I hitched a number of times between south Sebastopol (the Beacon fuel station)
and Sonoma State University (campus, or across E. Cotati from campus). Below are the times waited and number of rides
required for these trips. I wore shorts or jeans and a t-shirt, and sometimes a neat baseball-cap. I always had a small black-leather
backpack (worn or at my feet). I used a white cardboard sign with black lettering ("SSU -- sonoma state" for the eastward trips
and "Sebastopol -- fircrest" for the westward).
- 8/27/97 -- East: 2 rides, 2 five-minute waits, negligible walking.
- West: 2 rides, 2 ten-minute waits, 1/2 mile walk.
- 8/28/97 -- East: 3 rides, 2 five-minute waits, one 2 minute wait, one 1/2 mile walk.
- West: arranged with friend.
- 9/4/97 -- East: 1 ride, ten-minute wait.
- West: friend.
- 9/8/97 -- East: 1 ride, three-minute wait.
- West: friend.
- 9/18/97 -- East: 1 ride, five-minute wait.
- West: (after dark) 1 ride, ten-minute wait (picked up coincidentally by a friend).
Conclusions
It took me no more than 1/4 hour longer to arrive on campus by thumb than it does with self-determined transportation. The
first time I took a car, it took me *longer* and cost me $1.50, all because of parking issues.
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