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hitchsters.com is an easy-to-use web-based system which conveniently connects travelers so they can share taxis (and thus split the fare) to and from an airport. In many places taxis are the most convenient form of transportation between metropolitan centers and airports, but they are expensive, too. The hitchsters.com matching system (patent pending) makes riding in a taxi more affordable, more environmentally friendly and more fun. You first look for a potential co-rider by checking out the list of users who have already signed up. If you don’t see anyone with whom you can conveniently connect, you can enter in you own information and wait to be matched. Once a match is made, you will be notified with both a text message to your cell phone and an e-mail containing the first name and cell phone number of the other co-rider (nothing else is shared with the other co-rider). As an additional safety feature, we preserve the phone numbers of all of the successful matches. You then contact each other to arrange to meet to share a cab. If you are sharing a ride to an airport, then you will only be matched with someone else who is leaving from your area to go to the same airport. If you are sharing a ride from an airport, you will only be matched with someone who is on the same flight (no worries about late flights) and going to the same area you are. hitchsters.com provides you with an additional feature: if you would like to be matched with a co-rider of a certain gender, you may state such as either (1) a “gender preference” (we will attempt to match you in accordance with such preference, but we can’t guarantee--this option is for those who most importantly want to save some cash) or (2) a “gender requirement” (if we can’t match on this basis, then a match will not be made and you ride alone). None of this is ever revealed to the co-rider.In order for hitchsters.com to work, users have to agree to the following: Meeting Up. You have to do your best to connect with your co-rider. hitchsters.com will stink if people leave others hanging. Breaking a Tie. Can’t agree on who gets out first? Rock/paper/scissors. Safety. While it is important to be open to meeting new people if you want to save money using hitchsters.com, you are under no obligation to share a cab with someone that creeps you out (Please e-mail us and let us know if this happens).How does hitchsters.com work? 1. You either select from the list of potential co-riders who have already signed up or enter your own information. How do I improve my chances of being successfully matched with a co-rider? 1. Check out the site right after you book your flight. If you don’t see a potential match, sign up right away in order to give yourself the best odds of being matched. When should I contact my co-rider after I am matched? You should call them as soon as you are matched to arrange to meet up/get a cab. What if I want to change my flight? Then DO NOT USE HITCHSTERS.COM. Only use hitchsters.com once you have decided on a flight and a time. Do not leave people hanging—if people don’t think of others, hitchsters.com will suck. Oh no, something horrible has happened after I entered my information and I can no longer share a cab. How do I remove my entry before I am matched? Go here to delete your entry. Thank you for deleting your entry promptly to ensure that you are not matched with a co-rider. Is hitchsters.com free? Yes (but note your cell phone carrier may charge you for the text message). What’s up with the first person getting out paying 60% of the fare? After months of debate (which even included the Wall Street Journal—see here) over how to come up with a rule for splitting the fare, we decided upon the 60% rule because it accomplished three goals: (1) ensuring that the rider who gets out last doesn’t get stiffed for the tip; (2) preventing riders from arguing over who gets out first (most likely the preferred option, other things being equal); and (3) providing an easy-to-remember and easy-to-calculate rule (just halve the fare to that point and add 10%). Are you affiliated with taxi companies? No, we are not affiliated with taxi companies at this time. However, if you are a taxi or limousine company and would like to discuss future arrangements, please email us contact@hitchsters.com. What if my flight is late and I am sharing a cab from the airport to my destination? Since we only match you with other people on the same flight, you will not be affected by late flights. I put my information in yesterday but I still have not been matched. What’s up? The hitchsters.com matching system searches for a suitable co-rider from the time you enter your information until either your flight lands or your time to hail a cab passes. We hope that the time that it takes to match you with a co-rider will shorten as more people use hitchsters.com (so please tell your friends—the more people who use it, the more money you can save). If you are not matched, you will receive a sad, depressing text message and e-mail wishing you better luck next time. How does hitchsters.com make money? We are trying to figure that out. Let us know if you would like to advertise with us – we think a lot of pretty cool people look at our site. Is hitchsters.com safe? All hitchsters.com users use hitchsters.com at their own risk. Similar to Craigslist, anyone can use hitchsters.com and we do not do anything to check people out before they use it. However, any time you get in a cab it is you and a stranger, and we think three strangers are safer than two. Also, as a safety precaution, we keep a record of all matches. I was matched with someone in my area but 30 blocks away. Anything I can do to make it easier to meet up when we share a ride to the airport? Users are free to coordinate how they want, but you could consider calling up your co-rider and figuring out who should get the cab first and then come and pick up the other person. Just remember, whenever you get out, you pay 60% of the fare at that time. Someone flaked and did not meet me. What should I do? Please e-mail us and let us know if this happens. Anyone can use hitchsters.com and everyone who uses hitchsters.com uses it at their own risk, but we reserve the right to block users who abuse hitchsters.com. Are you going to give my personal information to 3rd party marketing agencies that are then going to bombard me with advertisements? NO NO NO NO No. Nope. No way. We hate annoying phone calls and spam e-mail, too. We will preserve a record of all of the matches as an extra safety precaution, but we are not going to give your phone number or e-mail address to anyone for marketing reasons. Please see our Privacy Policy for more details. When I travel for work, I get reimbursed. Why should I use hitchsters.com? Because you can meet new people who might know a city better than you. You could also treat a co-rider to a cab ride (ever seen that bumper sticker about “random acts of kindness”?) Then hitchsters.com would be really cool. I am using the Internet on the airplane now. Can I use hitchsters.com? Yes. The hitchsters.com matching system continues to look for a suitable co-rider on your flight until a few minutes before your scheduled landing. If you are matched, you will receive a text message when you land which has the contact information of the co-rider. What if I am under 18? Have your mom take you to the airport. Don’t use hitchsters.com.
First-name basis only (the hitchsters.com community is very informal). Don’t get out of the cab directly in front of your place. Let someone else know that you are using hitchsters.com (the phone number of your co-rider will be in your e-mail, too). As an additional safety measure, we keep a record of every match.We are committed to providing our users with access to interesting products, services, and events. If you would like to discuss further potential advertising arrangements, please e-mail us at contact@hitchsters.com. AS FEATURED IN: ABC USA Today New York Daily News Gothamist, NY Wall Street Journal
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