Now, while slugging was news to me when I first heard about it, it has been around for over 30 years. Rooted back in the gas crisis of the Arab Oil Embargo of the 70’s it has evolved over time to having it’s own website, slug-lines.com. On the site you can find a map of Slug Line locations, a Slug Line rating system and even a break down of the informal rules of slugging. Here are just a few:
As a slug rider, don’t talk unless the driver initiates the conversation (this could be a little awkward)
- No money, gifts, or tokens of appreciation are ever offered or requested
- Slugs don’t talk on their cell phones
- The line does not leave a woman standing alone
- There is no smoking or eating by the driver or slug
- My favorite… No “Body Snatching”
(”Body Snatching” is when a driver picks up a slug on the slugs way to the line, allowing both of them to avoid the lines, but it is a big no no!)
Clearly there are some drawbacks to this system. There is the physiological stress of doing something your parents have told you for years not to do “Don’t take rides from strangers!” Then there is the reason, why they told you not to get in the car with a stranger… homicidal maniacs, although there have been no reports of murders on the Slug Line. I guess one could argue that one is less likely to go bizerk zipping to work in the HOV lane than they are sitting in gridlock listening to conservative talk radio. Finally, you will no longer be able to buy oranges from drifters on the side of the road (but I guess that’s a SoCal thing, not a DC thing).
It’s better than the alternatives…
This doesn’t seem like a very safe thing to do to me! It’s the same as picking up hitch-hikers, isn’t it…and you KNOW what mom always said about THAT!
This is a great idea, but I’ve always liked the idea of hitch hiking and if you end up getting to know the people ’slugging’ at the same place as you do then at least someone will know you’ve gone missing! And if you don’t end up knowing the people to see every day then you should get out of yourself more frequently.
Anyone see the episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm where Larry picks up the hooker to use the HOV lane to make it to the Dodger game on time? Well it results in his friend Harvey Funkhauser (formerly “Super Dave”) getting caught with weed and Larry’s dad getting high with the whore.
If this much hilarity ensues as a result of slugging, I’m GAME! (Awesome post, by the way!)
I love that episode, and that entire show!
@Susan S
I see where you are coming from but slugging’s been going on for 30 years and thousand of people do it everyday in the DC area (which isn’t the safest place in the US btw) and it’s been safe so far, knock on FSC certified wood!
@Greenpointer
I’ve seen it, it’s a classic!
Sluggin? Death to your concept!!! This has been going on forever in DC and in the SFBay and probably elsewhere. The name is “Casual Carpool”. Slugging is for parro-mong dongs. Behold thine truth.
Shokotto is crazy but correct. This phenomenon is called “Casual Carpooling”. Slugging sound’s like a baseball term to me.
@SHOKOTTO, did you read the article? It’s not our concept and we acknowledge that it’s over 30 years old.
@TERRY DUNN, we should have included the term “Casual Carpooling” too.
@TERRY DUNN
Oh, I forgot to mention, this is what I think of when I hear “Casual Carpooling”…
http://images.loqu.com/photos/308/810/is-this-car-pooling.jpg
This is not a great idea….unless you re HEAVILY ARMED!