Monday 23 August 2010

X led to Slugging- August 23rd, 2010

Slugging involves the creation of free, unofficial ad hoc networks, often complete with published routes and pick-up and drop-off locations. Sluggers go to facilities with lines of sluggers. Y pull up to the queue for the route they will follow and either display a sign or call out the designated drop-off point they are willing to go to and how many sluggers they can take. There are a number of unofficial rules to the arrangement-

* No talking unless the Y initiates conversation.
* No open windows unless all approve.
* No money will ever be exchanged or requested.
* Smoking and drinking beverages is prohibited, unless the Y permits it.
* The Y has full control of the radio.
* Y are not to pick up sluggers outside the line, referred to as "body-snatching".

While the practice is most common and most publicized in the Washington, D.C. area, slugging is also used in San Francisco, Pittsburgh, and other U.S. cities. What legal modification, X, made slugging attractive to all? (Y is just a place-holder)

6 comments:

Angelus said...

I have heard of an iphone App that lets you do this in NY.

Anonymous said...

Not sure what answer you are looking for... but slugging is a name for carpool..

Dev said...

special carpool lanes!

Sailesh Ganesh said...

Is this a ride sharing scheme for office commuters? No idea what legal modification made it attractive.

Angelus said...

Ok my ans is making Hitch hiking not illegal anymore in those cities.

The Answer said...

The law I was looking for is the introduction of special carpool lanes (HOV lanes). This made slugging attractive for drivers too as carpool lanes are usually much faster than regular lanes.

Congrats Dev for the answer and others for playing!