A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Ga-LAX-y

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Author: Brett Fujioka

I’ve noticed that there are very few first year students, let alone upperclassmen, who are familiar with the proper etiquette of asking for rides in college. The reason why, in fact, is that a code of etiquette for this delicate request hasn’t been established. I’m well aware that there are official rules for King’s cup, Beer Pong, and many other college pastimes, so why not for getting rides? I flipped through my copy of The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: College, but was frustrated to find that it didn’t list “hitching a ride,” or the etiquette of doing so. Instead of going on a tirade like I usually do, I have opted to compose my own rules and regulations.

First let’s get the monetary issues out of the way. Before asking a person for a ride, make sure that their car is in tiptop shape. It’s sort of rude to ask someone for a ride when their car barely made the transition from home to college. Also, unless you or the driver is bringing along a large party, never ask a person to drive you in a Hummer or an SUV. While it’s trendy to consider gas emission while driving, this isn’t the case in this situation. Driving a large vehicle for a party of two can put a large hole in your driver’s wallet or, perhaps, your own.

This leads me to the next rule of etiquette: Always offer to pay for gas. The chances are, depending on how well you know the driver, he or she will brush off the gesture, but it’s always polite to offer. If it has already been established by the driver that the passenger never has to pay, then never offer to pay unless the trip is so long that it seems appropriate.

If you’re heading to an event at which parking is required, always offer to pay for parking. I can’t stress this enough. At the very least, if the destination is a place where the driver wants to go as well, offer to split the parking fare with them. When a driver is headed somewhere they don’t want to be, it’s a huge pain to have to pay for parking, especially in LA. In this situation you must offer to pay.

IOUs never function as payment. College students are trustworthy most of the time, but they’re also a preoccupied and forgetful lot. Chances are you’ll never see your IOUs returned. Lastly, you don’t need to pay for everything-just something. You’re not on a hot date with the driver.

If the trip takes more than an hour don’t ask for a ride (again, unless the driver is sincerely willing or already wants to go). This should apply even more if you intend to have the driver drop you off at your destination. Keep in mind that they also have to make the return trip solo.

There’s always a standard and appropriate way to ask people for rides. My rule of thumb is to only telephone close friends when asking for rides. Otherwise, you should always ask in person. Never ask someone for a ride if they’re engaged in studying or reading. When I say reading though, I mean that they’re obviously reading a book for school. If they’re reading a magazine such as US Weekly, Playboy or Maxim then it’s appropriate to interrupt them and request a ride. On weekdays, it’s alright to ask for a ride after 3 p.m., when most early birds are done with classes. On weekends, anytime after 12 p.m. is fine.

Two big exceptions to these rules are asking to go on beer or taco truck runs. These two are emergency situations, which are exempt from usual time constraints. However, in these two cases it’s usually appropriate to ask for them anytime before 2 a.m. Also, when asking a driver to go on a beer run, paying his or her share of beer for the night (if he or she is drinking) is a good remuneration. Of course, the beer run should be made before said driver starts drinking.

With these new rules in mind, you will now be able to enrich your college experience by bumming rides off of other people. I will conclude with one last chief rule: Never hold it against someone if they refuse to give a ride. The chances are that they have their reasons. They may be busy at the moment, have other matters to attend to, or have to study. Keep this in mind and drive safely.

Brett Fujioka is a senior ECLS major. He can be reached at bfujioka@oxy.edu.

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