Have You Ever Hitchhiked or Picked Up a Hitchiker?

[geodebasser]

When I was in college in the seventies it was no big deal to hitchhike or give someone a ride. I remember on my way to Colorado picking up a hitchhiker in Missouri when I was young.
He was in his second year at West Point heading home. When I dropped him off at his home in Missouri I met his sister. I ended up staying a couple of days. They had the nicest parents and I ended up crappie fishing with their dad before resuming my journey.
Unfortunately today it would be too risky to pick up a hitchhiker and life is a lot less spontaneous today.

[Okie Poke]

I’ve done both. No incidents.

[SoonerFan]

I lived in LA in the 60's when I was 17...that's how we got around. Hitched a lot when I was in the Air Force too. Not much after I actually grew up.

[bcreek]

I hitched up and down I-75 mid to late 70's no problems. Even had a guy pick me up in Ohio and drop me off in Richmond,Ky. and told me he travels the same route, same time every Sunday and if I needed a ride, be there.

[Mahomee]

I have picked them up still, last one on a rural highway, he was going a long long ways. He was not thumbing it, I figured he broke down or something.

If I see the same person bass fishing on the bank or a dock more than once. I ALWAYS offer to take them out on my boat.

It happens a bit, because I go to lakes for 2-3 weeks at a time usually. Or have been in E Tx for 3 months at a time.

There have been road construction, construction, cell phone tower builder's plural and college students so far and a few unemployed guys.

[borderbasser]

I picked up a pair of hitch hikers years ago, no incident, but that was the only and only time I ever picked someone up off the side of the road. Do people even hitchhike any more?

[DaveBrabec]

In the 70 s yes. It was way more common.

[GOTTA BIG SACK]

What did the sister look like?

[Highcentered]

I've never done it and will never pick someone up. Most people hitchhiking are probably good hearted people but not worth the risk these days. I have passed people and really had to fight the urge to stop and pick them up. You just never know what they're going through or if they're mentally deranged.

[pantherdad]

Used to pick up hitch hickers up not now. To many nuts out there.
What bothers me is leave a stranded motorist when close to home. I have plenty tools to help but like I said too many nuts. Did stop help couple that were returning from a Canadian fishing trip. Great story of catching small mouth.

[tj]

I gave 15-mile ride to two women hitchhikers about 1983 on my 1980 Honda cb750f. Honda had back rest/luggage rack. Was almost late to Calc III class.

[marshman]

I’m gonna say no and no…. Too much weird stuff going on nowadays.. there’s some weirdos out there..

I picked up a dude once down by port Fourchon.. he had a “gear bag” and hard hat with him and it was pretty obvious he just got off a boat or helicopter from offshore… he needed a ride up to the motel/restaurant/bar in Fourchon, 2 miles up the road and his girlfriend or whoever was meeting him there.. he gave me $20 for a 2 mile or less ride.. I told him no, he threw it on the seat getting out..

I think that’s the only time I ever picked anyone up..


had a girl in Colorado at a middle of nowhere truck stop ask me for a ride north.. i thought about it for about 30 seconds and before I said yes or no, she said she’d give me a favor in return.. that switched me to a firm no.. driving off I thought damn was I dumb… but, oh well..

I’ve never hitchhiked.. I’ve walked miles on different occasions for different reasons, nobody ever stopped to ask if I needed a ride..

[JR19]

I can’t remember the last time I even saw a hitch hiker. I occasionally see people walking near the city limits of the small town I live in but as for seeing someone hitch hiking on the outskirts of town headed out of town it’s been a long time since I saw that.

I live in a rural area. The side road I live on does not get a lot of traffic. For the last 4 or so years I often take a 30 minute walk on a routine basis weather permitting. I never throw my thumb out like I want a ride but I make it a point to wave at the all vehicles that pass by. Over the last 4 years there been a couple times when someone would stop and ask if I needed a ride. I always reply I’m just out for my after dinner walk and thank them anyways. Most of the vehicles that travel my road are local and buy now they recognize me. The couple times that someone actually stop it’s always been someone whom I don’t know. I live near the lake and get some traffic for people who know the short cut. I suspect these are the one who stop and ask if I needed a ride.

The only two times I can recall hitch hiking were in the early 90’s. In both instances I had a vehicle that needed repair beyond what I could do. I drove them to the shop and hit the road with my thumb out. In both instances I didn’t make it far before I got a ride. I guess it helps that I was in a community I grew up in and only 7-8 mile from where I was going.

[WVBullet]

Back in the 80’s, I picked up a few, but I knew them. There was the Johnson brothers that never owned a car until about the latter 80’s. I’d pick them up all the time and take them to town (about 6 miles away). They were both around 60, never drove a day in their lives. They were in the bigtime when they got their first car. Proud as peacocks. Good ol boys. They’d drive their mom to town and she loved it. She was in her upper 80’s.

[west_tn]

My little town is know for a pretty terribly gruesome murder involving hitchhiking. I've heard that story since I was a kid so no I've never picked anyone up.

A woman pretended to be broke down and and flagged a young man down. When he pulled over to help or give her a ride two others that were hidden attacked him. They killed him and cut him up. Cut out his heart and sucked blood out of it, and cut off his manhood. Like I said it was bad and a story that will make you never stop to pick someone up.

Random fact, I graduated high-school and was friends with the woman's daughter.

[Mechanic Bob]

Yes to both. Back in the 70's

[Phoenix Jim]

I did all the time while serving in England. Brits loved giving rides to US service members

[billnorman1]

Didn't have a car as a teen ager in the 1950's and 1960's so I hitchhiked everywhere I wanted to go. Went in the Air Force and still hitchhiked. I was in Illinois going to Chicago one December night and couldn't get a ride, it was snowing, I was in my uniform in the country and figured I was going to freeze to death if I didn't get a ride. I saw a farmhouse light a couple of miles off and was going to walk there and in desperation ask to come in but just as I got to the driveway I got a ride.
A most dangerous thing to do, I won't pick up hitchhikers.

[MYRX]

I hitchhiked quite a bit from 1969 - 1971. That's often how I got from HS to work in the afternoons.

[yetti462]

I've picked up a few, obvious car trouble and gave a short ride to get them help. I've been picked up too for same reasons. Out of gas one time in HS and once walking home from getting caught and flooded out during a pop up storm while I was on my tractor.