Oregon/Tips for hitchhikers
From Wikia Travel
Oregon, a state of the US, is great for hitchhiking. No long waiting times, and it's legal to walk on the freeway! Don't hesitate to actually do it, if you can't find a ride on the on-ramp. Lots of people do stop on the freeway. Cops won't harrass you. And even trucks will stop on the on-ramps. Often you will find yourself dropped off at the exact place where you wanted to be.
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[edit] Albany
Albany, Oregon is notorious for being one of the worst towns to try to hitchhike out of. Although there are many gas stations within walking distance to the on- and off-ramps for I-5, the Albany locals tend to be spiteful and not trusting of hitchhikers, due to rumors of crimes committed by people posing as hitchhikers in this town.
[edit] Ashland
In Ashland, Oregon you just get to the I-5 and wait on the on-ramp and you will easily and quickly find a ride.
[edit] Eugene
Eugene is a college town in Oregon.
When going North, try to opt for a ride that will bring you directly- or most of the way- to your destination. While there are many laws that protect hitchhikers in the state of Oregon, the practice of hitchhiking can be somewhat frowned upon in small towns, such as Albany (Oregon), as well as the capital city of Salem, which both have reputations for being fairly conservative places.
It is difficult to get out of the city going North. If you're downtown, walk north on High, cross 6th, turn east (right) on 6th sidewalk. It curves left on bridges over tracks and river. Now you're on Coburg rd. 1/2 mile farther is on-ramp.
You can take a city bus (#12) past Gateway Mall to the intersection of Gateway and Beltline. There is an on-ramp just west of there.
If someone can give you a ride, the first rest stop north of Eugene (about 5-10 miles) is a great place to go from. Your driver will have to continue North for about 5 miles after dropping you off before being able to turn around. But the "old man" here says kids are usually gone by the time he drives by on his way back to Eugene. He took me once; worked like a charm.
When going South, you can take the 30th Avenue and head east. You can probably hitch a ride at a bus stop, especially during rush hour. At the on-ramp there's quite a lot of traffic, but you might be better off waiting on the freeway itself (which is legal in Oregon).
[edit] Portland
Portland is one of the biggest cities in Oregon, and a popular destination for drivers.
Most of the freeway on-ramps from within Portland do not allow adequate space for drivers to stop and pull-over for hitchhikers. Therefore, it is recommended that the best way to get out of Portland is to take the public transit system as far out of the city as possible, and try from an on-ramp that allows for more room to pull over.
