Skitching and other urban winter sports

When I was young, growing up in Chicago, I lived in an inner city neighborhood that was mid to lower class. My bungalow (type of house in midwest) was settled about a block off the busy street, and there was lots of adventures to be had, being a kid and all. winter time meant snow time, and snow time in the city meant skitching.
For all of you that may not be familiar with the art and sport of skitching, I will try to describe a typical day I might duck out of school to engage in this unique sport.
First you need the right gear, really old shoes with little tread, (my personal faves were good ol' chuck taylors, worn down till there was just smooth rubber) Next, you will need a warm jacket, good gloves that have some sort of grip or padding on the palms. This will prove an important advantage over just having cotton/knit gloves.
In a nutshell, skitching is sneaking up behind a car stopped at a stop sign, on the snow/ice covered streets, grabbing the back bumper and going for a little ride around town.
This involves both stealth, agility, a little balance and lots of fun and danger. The best cars were V.W. bugs, because the bumpers were low, easy to hold, and the back end was such that it was hard for the driver to see you sneaking up and catching a ride. I remember the news used to put out a little reminder during the winter months, for drivers to look out for kids when coming upon stop signs.
Being a skitcher, the main thing you really needed to look out for once you caught a ride, is where you were being taken and the timing of your departure. This could prove quite dangerous if you didnt bail before the car hit plowed streets, or if they stopped suddenly at a crossway, and you went face first into the bumper. The best place to be was on the corner of the bumper, so you had the best bail space.

Tomorrow I will talk about my other winter sport, riding down snow covered fire escapes.