Will you hitchhike with us?

"F'kes meerijden" is an innovative transport concept that focuses on hitchhiking in the Brainport region. The perception that hitchhiking is a thing of the 1990s doesn't do justice to the current possibilities.

Brainport Bereikbaar tested hitchhiking as a social and sustainable mode of transport from autumn 2023 to summer 2025. During this test period, we investigated whether the hitchhiking concept, combined with the F'kes ride-along elevator columns, would be successful in the Kempen region and whether further rollout was desirable. The elevator columns made the old-fashioned "thumb-up" more accessible to everyone. The idea is simple: you indicate your destination at a lift column, and a display alerts passing motorists. Then you simply have to wait for someone to give you a ride. 

Completion of test period

The F'kes Ride-Along test period has now been completed. The F'kes Ride-Along project demonstrates that hitchhiking certainly has potential as a regional transport concept, especially in rural areas. However, its success depends heavily on factors such as safety, social acceptance, and communication.

Experiences from the test period

The test period shows that hitchhiking works efficiently in practice: a whopping 84% of the rides in the user tests were successful, with an average wait time of less than seven minutes. However, many people still find it unsafe and uncertain, especially when it comes to the return journey or the travel time.

To make hitchhiking a natural alternative, a cultural shift is needed. Sharing positive experiences and using social persuasion strategies can help remove these barriers.

Visibility and flexibility

The concept's visibility proves to be more important than the physical presence of fixed elevator columns. While these offer recognition, we see little difference in success rate between elevators at a column, a temporary point, or a random location.

For a broader rollout, it's therefore more effective to use flexible tools, such as lift signs and targeted communication. The lift columns themselves are primarily valuable as promotional tools and can also be used for other forms of ride-sharing, provided they are adapted to the local context.

Local involvement and social added value

A successful approach also requires local involvement. Residents must feel ownership of the initiative. Connecting to existing platforms or carpooling apps can strengthen this. Combining public transport hubs and shared mobility also offers opportunities to further expand the network without excessive investment.

The social aspect is especially crucial: people primarily take hitchhikers out of helpfulness and for the conviviality, not solely for mobility reasons. Therefore, it's important to emphasize the human and social value of hitchhiking in your communication.

Technology and energy supply

Finally, technology plays a supporting role in the application of lift columns. Experience shows that simplicity and ease of use are paramount. Therefore, portable lift columns certainly offer added value.

However, the solar panels used proved insufficiently reliable as an energy source. Connecting to the power grid or using fuel cells are more effective alternatives and allow for the maintenance of functionality in further regional rollout.

Conclusion and next steps

In summary, F'kes ride-along has proven that hitchhiking has a future as a social and sustainable transport concept. For successful scaling, trust, visibility, local integration, and a focus on the social aspect are crucial.

Brainport Bereikbaar takes this into account when relocating the elevator columns in the region.

Curious about the full advisory report? Or would you like to use the elevator columns to promote elevator use in your area? Then send an email to info@brainportbereikbaar.nl for more information.

Influencer Gina July hitchhiking in the Kempen (video):