People who travel by standing on roads and requesting free rides from passing vehicles.
From 'hitch' (to fasten, attach) combined with 'hike' (journey). The term emerged in the early 20th century as cars became common, replacing older forms of travel.
Hitchhiking became so popular during the Great Depression that by the 1950s it was almost a mainstream travel method, even featured in folk songs like Woody Guthrie's 'Pastures of Plenty.' It's one of America's most democratic ways to travel—a stranger's trust made free movement possible.
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