I hitched a few thousand miles recently across Europe. As far as I can tell it's just a misunderstanding of statistics and extreme risk aversion that reduces n

I hitched a few thousand miles recently across Europe. As far as I can tell it's just a misunderstanding of statistics and extreme risk aversion that reduces numbers. This idea that it's more or less dangerous than some other activity just doesn't jibe with me. Life isn't about going to the gym with muesli and green beans and avoiding scary information and so on. It is precious precisely because we have freedom. On the idea of public transport replacing hitching - that's a completely different experience. It's commercial. You deal with ticket inspectors assuming you are a thief, barriers, overcrowding, limited routes, high cost (the entire point of hitching is having an extended/permanent trip on a budget). Etc. Self driving cars may well kill it off entirely. And we will have lost something great - one of the few areas of life untouched by capitalism.