Lots of people in Russia prefer hitch-hiking as a way of traveling and ignore ordinary means of transportation, supposing hitch-hiking to be more interesting, faster and simpler than trains or buses. Furthermore it is free. Others argue that this way of traveling fits for emergency situations only and it is rather dangerous. Both positions have their advantages and disadvantages, which aren’t obvious, so they are to be considered. In my honest opinion hitch-hiking doesn’t fit everybody, but it doesn’t mean that it is bad.

Pro

Hitch-hikers believe that only their way of traveling gives a possibility to recognize the real life and the couleur locale of the region or even the country because of communicating with long-distance lorry drivers. It is true; there is nothing for tourists on the highway. It is something like looking into the machine space of the ship.

Secondly, the hitch-hikers are sure and even ready to demonstrate it, that they can move faster than trains. They can get to the places, which are very difficult to approach, because of some transport problems.

Thirdly, hitch-hiking is free. You can get from Moscow to Vladivostok practically without money, because you will spend it only on food.

Finally hitch-hiking is a part of the great encyclopedia of survival, which is unfortunately only oral but useful for everybody. Moreover, hitch-hiking has its own philosophy set against the consuming society, which has become helpless because of the power of money.

Contra

Other people could object that the tourist objects and the local means of transport are also worth to see. And the drivers can not give a full idea of all the people living there.

The people who maintain using traditional means of transport can dislike such depending on the chance, because sometimes it is impossible to stop a lorry for hours. It is especially unacceptable for business professionals, whose days are mapped out to the last five-minute increment, and not only for them.

There is nothing to object to the point according to money. I only guess that a hitch-hiking trip from Moscow to Vladivostok won’t be so comfortable as, for example, the same flight or even the train. It is very important for those people who want to have a rest on the way, and do not want to communicate with anybody, even with long-distance lorry drivers, who can give a better idea of the region (country) than a dozen of professional guides.

There is some objection even to the final passage about philosophy. Intelligent and creative people invented trains and planes to make life and transportation easier. Certainly, one must pay for it. But why not, if there is enough money? It is not so wise to think that you know all about the ship if you have visited the machine space. The machine space is the heart of the ship, but not the ship itself.

All in all, both the ways of traveling and transportation are suitable for specific purposes. Different people have different goals when they buy tickets or go hitch-hiking. I would not advise foreigners to hitch-hike in Russia unless they are perfectly sure that they really want to taste it. Russian roads are very long for some geographical reasons. It is not so dangerous, perhaps, but not very comfortable, though extremely interesting.

Yulia Buzykina