From today's New York Sun:

Hitching a ride on the streets of New York is illegal, so today's hitchhikers are sticking out their thumbs with posts on craigslist.org. ... The craigslist.org New York ride board gets about 25 posts a day, with about an even number offering and soliciting rides. Most posters are looking to team up for shorter drives to destinations along the Northeast corridor, but some seek cross-country travel companions.

The ride board generally yields results only for travelers with flexibility when it comes to destinations and departure dates. Often, the going rate for passengers is the ability to cover at least half of gas expenses. They may not have to be gifted conversationalists, but passengers are often vetted by drivers, either in person or on the phone, to make sure they at least are not insane.

We can't wait until their story on the Casual Encounters section.

If Jack Kerouac Were Alive, He Could Hitch a Ride Online [NYS] (Wait, did they really just use that headline?)