Autobahn Adventures: Mitfahrgelegenheit
December 14, 2009 | David Ferris
The open road awaits.
Tiptoeing around multiple language barriers, we exchange muted but polite introductions in a nondescript parking lot on the outskirts of Berlin. Not one minute later, the four of us – a German, an Italian, an American, and a young woman of ambiguous nationality –are racing eastward in a shiny black BMW, bound for Prague. “Classic German efficiency,” I think to myself, wondering who my car-mates are and what they’re doing here too.
It’s a familiar experience for experienced users of Mitfahrgelegenheit, Germany’s wildly popular ride-share system. Mitfahrgelegenheit, which loosely translates to rideshare, is easier to use than it is to pronounce. Its straightforward, free-to-use website helps budget-savvy passengers and drivers going to points to, from, and within Germany arrange long-distance carpools. It’s hitchhiking for the Facebook era: digitized, streamlined, and remarkably easy even for foreign travelers.
The site boasts 180,000 ride listings at a given moment, and though most users are German, people of all nationalities crisscrossing the Republik (or beyond) take advantage of the service. After logging on to www.mitfahrgelegenheit.de, simply plug in your origin, desired to/from location, and date of departure (a “flexible date” option exists for those with more open schedules). The results are listed accordingly by date and time of departure, origin and destination, and the driver’s asking price. (While the site is free to use, nearly all drivers ask for money in exchange for a space in their vehicle, though the price is almost invariably lower than bus or train travel.) Brief descriptions of the driver, pick-up and drop-off points, and contact information are included in each result.
Don’t be deterred by a lack of German language skills. The site itself is easy to figure out (a few quick translations online or with a dictionary go a long way), and the German drivers on the site tend to live up to their country’s reputation for superior English skills. That most rides are arranged via SMS or e-mail makes communication a bit easier. Drivers are eager to fill their vehicles, and you might be surprised by how quickly a weekend jaunt from, say, Bonn to Dusseldorf be arranged with the aid of a complete stranger. Keep in mind, however, that while Mitfahrgelegenheit can be a fun, budget-friendly way to pick up last-minute rides to exotic locales, don’t always count on it for eleventh-hour transportation, as most rides (especially on popular routes) tend to fill up earlier rather than later.
In my Mitfahrgelegenheit experience, I expected the awkwardness of forced conversation to dull the appeal, but there appears to be no assumed obligation of small-talk between passengers and drivers. The dynamic tends to be “businesslike but cordial.” That said, one of the tangential benefits of Mitfahrgelegenheit is the possibility of serendipitous encounters and the friendly camaraderie that often arises between the random coming together of people of different walks of life.
Of course, getting into a vehicle with a complete stranger carries an obvious risk. Mitfahrgelegenheit posters are required to register and fill out a profile, but always, as with anything, use sound judgment. Usually, you won’t be the sole passenger in the vehicle, but if the driver arouses suspicion upon meeting him or her, by all means don’t hesitate to walk away. That said, barring any safety concerns, follow through on your planned ride-share once you have committed. The system relies on assumed bonds of trust between strangers, and failing to show up (on time) for a confirmed ride is considered an unforgivable breach of carpool etiquette. Conversely, be aware that drivers have been known to occasionally leave passengers in the lurch after promising them transport. Develop a backup plan to get where you need to go if Fritz or Franz flake out at the last minute.
My Mitfahrgelegenheit-brokered Prague journey was so smooth and so relaxing - despite the breakneck speeds of the Autobahn and the unfamiliarity of those around me – that I drifted off to sleep only minutes after departing. Upon waking, my wanderer’s intuition told me that something was different. Looking out the window through the thin morning mist, I observed with silent glee that all the highway signs transformed into a different language. Within an hour, we were pulling into the Czech capital and dropped off conveniently at the main train station. The requisite fee was exchanged, and as quickly as we said hello, the four of us parted ways: four temporary travelmates, moving on once again.
