Hitchhike hand signals: a guide for drivers
Q. Because I live off a road fairly close to town, I’ve always wondered, what is the proper signal to give to the hitchhikers waiting by Embe Bakery, to let them know I am only travelling a short distance (and not going to Fulford)? Usually I gesture with my thumb and first finger, indicating a small amount, hoping they’ll understand I’m not ignoring them . . . but is this understood by most?
-Meghan Howcroft, Salt Spring Island
A. Being the hitchhiking mecca we are here on Salt Spring Island, it stands to reason that we have a comprehensive sign language to go along with it. Some drivers are comfortable staring straight ahead while whizzing past; others want to communicate out of respect for the laid back, trusting hitchhiking culture our island is famous for.
After surveying locals who hitchhike as their primary means of travel on the island, the following four driver hand signals were dubbed the most commonly used ones — the first is the one mentioned by Meghan and it is indeed generally understood.
I have labelled the hand signals above, but on the street they don’t seem to have official names; hitchhiking is predominantly an art of the visual.
But in the small window of drive-by time, hand signals can often be misinterpreted. The whoopsie doodle, for example, is a frequent gesture drivers use, according to local hitchhiker Daniel Mattingly, who says he is never quite sure what drivers intend this to mean. “I can’t stop,” for whatever reason, is what he gathers it says. Although its meaning is unclear for him, it is at least a courteous acknowledgment that is much appreciated.
The top three reasons why drivers say they do not pick up hitchhikers, according to Digihitch.com are as follows:
• risk of personal assault or theft
• the driver is not in the mood to make conversation or deal with supposed uncomfortable factors (in some cases, the hitchhiker’s smell or dirtiness, risk of being asked for money or otherwise propositioned, etc.)
• the hitchhiker is standing at a place where it is not safe for a car to stop.
With hand signals, drivers can communicate various reasons for not stopping, but whether or not their reasons are genuine is always suspect.
Mattingly says a driver once flashed him the “short-distance” signal at the Ganges hill, only to see him a few minutes later in Fulford after Mattingly had hitched a ride with someone else.
Think this hitchhiking hand signal glossary is incomplete? Post your descriptions of other signs below or email your comments to ageddes@gulfislands.net.
Thanks Amy! I’m glad the “hitchers” understood my gesturing. I love that I live in a place where this was my main quandary in life! Only on Salt Spring.
When I was hitchiking in New Zealand as a backpacker ,years ago, you didn’t put your thumb out but pointed at the road to signal you were looking for a ride.
Fun and interesting blog, Amy. Thanks. On Pender Island, Car Stop signs are used by some, and not by others. Each to their own ways. Jocko.
What is the sign for “jeez, my car is full of crap, empty cups, job stuff, discarded newspapers, three dogs, dog-hairy seats, and I’m running fifteen minutes late, and my car smells like the SPCA and although the car looks for all the world like I have space to take a small army of hitchers, in reality it is jammed with life-viscera (see above)” Is there a sign for this?
It was interesting to see instructions for drivers as to how to properly deal with hitchhikers. I have my own solution, I no longer pick them up.
I moved here over 30 years ago and since I did a lot of hitchhiking I would pick up everyone. Several years ago that started to change. Perhaps it was the girl I picked up at central. She got in and then informed me that if I did not pay her she would go to the police and claim I had molested her. I said she was nuts. She informed me that it was dead simple. She would simply undo a couple buttons and cry convincingly and I would be arrested. I drove her right to the police station and invited her in with me. She ran off.
Perhaps it was the lady I picked up at central. She was going to the Harbour House. When I stopped at the corner to let her out she refused to get out until I drove her to the front door. I drove in to Ganges and parked while I went shopping. When I returned a half hour later she was still in my car. I went and had coffee and when I returned she was finally gone. Speaking of the Harbour House I picked up a guy across from All Saints by the Sea. Guess where he was going? When I pointed out that we could see the hotel from where we were he still demanded a ride.
A girl I picked up at the same place also demanded a ride to the hotel. Late one night in the middle of winter I was coming home. It was pounding down rain and pitch black. I barely saw someone at the side of the road with their thumb out. I stopped and picked them up. When we got going she ( at least I hope it was a she, you could not tell) informed me that I was about to rape her. She kept repeating the accusation. I stopped the car an asked her to get out, she refused. She finally got out at central. After that I decided I would no longer pick up hitchhikers in, or north of, Ganges.
Coming up Ganges hill I saw a guy hitchhiking and decided to pick him up as I thought he was probably headed to Fulford. I had to drive down to Fulford with my head out the window. I drove around for three days with all the windows open trying to get rid of the stench.
Coming out of Fulford I decided to try one more time. The gypsy attire should have warned me. For the entire ride I was treated to a diatribe about how men were the cause of all evil and by driving a car I was worse than most. I didn’t hear it all as I had my head out the window. It took another three days of driving around with all the windows open to get rid of the overwhelming stink of patchouli oil. At least it was summer this time.
Out of the many hitchhikers I have picked up over the years I can count the number who said “thanks” on the fingers of one hand. The majority just got out and slammed the door hard enough to pop my eardrums. I no longer pick up hitchhikers and neither do many of my friends who have had similar experiences.
Nice work Amy. These pieces are great. Really capture our quirky island. Thanks and keep it up!