The Hitcher

[zf0enix]

OK, so on my way home last night I'm driving through this little rural town and I see a guy with his thumb out and hoofing it down the road. He looked to be early to mid-forties, and was wearing Dockers, a golf T-shirt and baseball cap. Not too threatening, so I picked him up.

Turns out, he's truck broke down while he was on his way to a dinner for his daughter's swim team. The school he was heading to was less than 5 miles from my house so I dropped him off at the door. On the way, he told me about his pending divorce, his kids, his wife, the fact that he lives with his in-laws currently, etc. Basically, his whole life summarized into 25 minutes. I was glad to talk to him.

I don't make a habit of picking up every hitchhiker I see, but this wasn't the first and will most likely not be the last. But, with the sketchiness of strangers nowadays, I was curious; Do others out there pick up hitchers? Or are things too dangerous where you're from?

Just curious…

[pseudopsycho]

I have picked a couple up before, most of the time people don't stop because of paranoia when there is really nothing to worry about

[Grondar]

Nope. Never have, never will.

Not worth the risk IMO.

Sure, most are probably perfectly fine guys, but instead of risking it, I will just let someone else pick them up.

I also would never hitchhike, as I have reached the conclusion that there are way too many assholes in this country to make it even an option. I will walk before I get into a car with someone I don't know. And they will walk before they get into a car with me...

[BigJayz]

I don't pick up hitchers usually, I have made a few exceptions in my life depending on how threatened I feel. I am not a small guy but I live in Southern California and there are quite a few wierdos around here. Halx can probably vouch for that! I have hitched here though and been picked up. Both by guys and girls and I was always incredibly happy they decided to stop.

I used to live on the Big Island of Hawaii though and hitching there is very common. I used to pick people up there all the time and it was always really cool because you get to meet some people that you never would have met that way. I picked up alot of people that were traveling the world by backpack and staying in hostiles. One guy I remember meeting was a fruitarian... kinda like a vegitarian but only fruit. He was backpacking around the world and basically living off the land. He smelled of Oranges, he had citrus oozing from his pores. He was very nice and offered my wife and I a few Oranges for the ride they were gladly accepted as I had just finished smoking a bowl before I picked him up.

[JoeyB]

Are you going to get the hitcher who hacks you to death and buries you in a shallow grave at the side of the road?

Or are you going to get the hitcher who finds it a little too hot in your truck and just has to take off her top and teach you certain sexual tricks she learned from her Swedish camp counselor a few years ago?


I don't usually feel lucky, so I just wave and keep driving.

[rock_bottom]

I once picked up a guy who was physically handicapped and seemed to be mentally retarded, giving him a 30 mile ride. It turns out (and I'm not making this up) he's an idiot savant, and needed the ride back from a trivia competition he'd won, and gave me gas money out of his winnings.
A few weeks later I went to a team competition with him, since I'm not all that bad at trivia myself, and it turned out the other teammate was my college philosophy professor, with whom the guy was best friends. Both my professor and I were nothing next to this guy when it came to Trivia, it's really disturbing how much he knew.
At any rate, that is why I pick up hitchikers on the rare occasions that I see them. Granted I doubt anything that cool will ever happen again, but it's been fun the few times I've done it (and yeah I obviously know the risk).

[Liquor Dealer]

I think this all depends on where you live. In our part of the country, if you have car trouble, you normally only have to wait until the next car comes down the road (and sometimes that might take a while) to be picked up and taken to where you need to go - often they'll even wait and take you back to your car if you're outa' gas or something. I can understand people being unwilling to pick up hitchhikers in some parts of the country but out here in the sticks we live in a different world - Hell! we wave at everybody we meet - doesn't matter if we know 'em or not!

[Unknown Poster]

I have only picked up 1 hitchhiker. It was an old man, about 80 or so. I was leaving the horsetrack and saw him standing on the corner looking a little distressed. I drove passed him, but my conscience got the best of me, so I turned around about a block later and picked him up. It turns out that the poor guy took a bus to the track and planned on taking the bus back, but they changed to schedule of the buses on him and he was stranded.

[zf0enix]

Originally posted by BastardStepChild
I think this all depends on where you live. In our part of the country, if you have car trouble, you normally only have to wait until the next car comes down the road (and sometimes that might take a while) to be picked up and taken to where you need to go - often they'll even wait and take you back to your car if you're outa' gas or something. I can understand people being unwilling to pick up hitchhikers in some parts of the country but out here in the sticks we live in a different world - Hell! we wave at everybody we meet - doesn't matter if we know 'em or not!

I totally agree. Where I picked this guy up was in a town of about 800, and he was heading to a town of ~20K. I've had good experiences mostly, though none as cool as rock_bottom (or the ones on the TTBoard). Picked up a couple that reeked of booze, so they got shorter rides.

I usually won't stop to help women on the side of the road anymore. I did a couple times, and they get too nervous (understandable). I usually slow down and ask if they need a phone, but don't get out unless they seem OK with it. Kind of a sad state of affairs when a woman has to be affraid of help from a man (not in uniform, that is).

[Liquor Dealer]

Originally posted by zf0enix
...I usually won't stop to help women on the side of the road anymore. I did a couple times, and they get too nervous (understandable). I usually slow down and ask if they need a phone, but don't get out unless they seem OK with it. Kind of a sad state of affairs when a woman has to be affraid of help from a man (not in uniform, that is).

I can assure you from first hand knowledge that there are far too many times that the one in uniform may be more of a threat than that the one that isn't (We allow a lot of people to have guns, badges, and marked cars that should be locked up for a lot of what they pull on a daily basis) - I think you have to handle dealing with a female a lot differently because they are more wary and by all right should be. I would hate to think that people would not stop and ask if they can help if a woman is having trouble on the side of the raod. - My wife used to know how to change a tire but I don't know if she remembers how to now! Hell! I had to get out my owners manual to find my jack and lug wrench the last time I needed one!!!

[rockogre]

I'm with bastardstepchild, I pick up locals all the time, it's part of living here but I don't pick up folks on the highway. Hell, it's hard to walk anywhere in the area without twenty people stopping to ask if I need a ride. Last time my bike broke down 6 pickup trucks were stopped at one time. I had several offers to have it hauled home. I do the same for them.

I used to hitchhike in my salad days in SoCal but now most of you are too scary, I'll take the bus if needed.

[JoeyB]

For those of you who feel safe enough to pick up hitchers....please be careful.

I've lived in small town American and in one of the biggest cities in the U.S....I didn't necessarily feel safe with people at the side of the road in either place.

It's sad, but I know the ultimate risk!

[zf0enix]

Originally posted by BastardStepChild
I can assure you from first hand knowledge that there are far too many times that the one in uniform may be more of a threat than that the one that isn't...

Things are in worse shape than I thought. I feel pretty good about our local police, but I could be wrong...

I had to get out my owners manual to find my jack and lug wrench the last time I needed one!!!

No kidding! It took me WAY too long to find the jack and extention on my Pathfinder. Fortunately, I was trying to show my wife so it wasn't an emergency.

[Zotz]

I rarely see any around here but I probably won't pick any up if I do. I guess it could be either paranoia or wisdom on my part but I've seen too many movies and read too many police reports where things go crazy.

[cheerios]

I'm a 20 year old female college student. no, I don't pick people up, unless i know them. but, it's kinda moot, because no one hitchhikes in Cali (that I've seen anyway). Maybe SoCal is different, but up here in the valley, I havn't seen a hitchhiker in years.

[spectre]

Originally posted by Zotz
I rarely see any around here but I probably won't pick any up if I do.

Same here. I'm more concerned with car jackers though.

[JStrider]

well i personally have never picked up a hitch hiker... i would if i wasnt in a rush...

several time in Yosemite with my dad we picked up hitch hikers...mostly younger guys that were stayin there all summer... my dad used to hitch hike around yosemite when he was young... so he gets all nostalgic and tells him about when he came and did the same thing...

[Cynthetiq]

Originally posted by BigJayz
I don't pick up hitchers usually, I have made a few exceptions in my life depending on how threatened I feel. I am not a small guy but I live in Southern California and there are quite a few wierdos around here. Halx can probably vouch for that! I have hitched here though and been picked up. Both by guys and girls and I was always incredibly happy they decided to stop.

I used to live on the Big Island of Hawaii though and hitching there is very common. I used to pick people up there all the time and it was always really cool because you get to meet some people that you never would have met that way. I picked up alot of people that were traveling the world by backpack and staying in hostiles. One guy I remember meeting was a fruitarian... kinda like a vegitarian but only fruit. He was backpacking around the world and basically living off the land. He smelled of Oranges, he had citrus oozing from his pores. He was very nice and offered my wife and I a few Oranges for the ride they were gladly accepted as I had just finished smoking a bowl before I picked him up.

I grew up in So. Cal, so I was raised to not pick up hitchhikers. I've picked some people up depending on the time and circumstance and yes, I did meet some characters, even had lunch with someone.

As with Hawaii, Iceland it's very common for people to hitchhike. I didn't do it myself, but people will stop if you wave at them since there's lots of territory and it can be dangerous when it's cold.

[yournamehere]

The world has certainly changed - I hitchhiked across the country a couple of times in the 70s - and have some great stories because of it - some bad, but mostly good.

Nowadays, especially living amongst 4 million people, I don't think I would ever stop for a hitchhiker. But you never know.

I certainly did when I was younger.

[laughter]

Picked one up.

He turned out to have just been released from prison. He seemed slightly schizophrenic. He wouldn't tell me where he was going, just mumbled something about calling his parole officer.

I dropped him off at the gas station. Last hitchhiker I will ever pick up.

[splck]

It depends where the hitch hiker is. If it's a small town where you know people I pick them up. If I was in a city, especially in the states, I wouldn't do it. I've worked in some small towns of 2500 people where it seems the only way to get around without a car was to hitch hike.

[clavus]

I've given rides to lots of grateful strangers. I've gone 100 miles out of my way to deposit a lost guy on his doorstep.

[MSD]

I'm too afraid that I'll end up picking up the owner of the world's worst case of B.O. Or that someone will try to kill me or rob me. I guess I could drop someone off early, but I'm still concerned about the lunatics. Maybe in two years when I get a concealed carry permit, but not unless I know I'm safe.

[World's King]

I used to pick 'em all the time but I ran out of places to stick the bodies. It was mostly a hobby. I have this really nice a collection of skulls over my fireplace.

[Wile E]

It all depends on the situation, but yes I have and will continue to. I have needed it quite a few times myself, and am more than grateful to extend what help I can. As far as car jackers go, there are way too many easier targets than me to choose, so its rarely a concern for me.

A year after I graduated from high school, my girlfriend at the time went to college after 4 hours from me. One night travelling to visit her, my truck broke down. Well, ran out of gas to be more precise. You see it was an old Bronco II and the gas gauge was broken and so was the odometer. There was no way to ever know how much gas was in there at all. Anyway, I'm in the middle of nowhere, USA, with some cows to keep me company when a man stops to see if everything was alright. Not only did he drive me 1/2hr to his house to get a gas can, he brought me to a gas station and back to my truck! He went an hour out of his way to help me. It blew me away. When I tried to compensate him for helping me, he said this, "When I was younger I broke down and was helped by an older man. When I offered him thanx, all he said was for me to pass this deed on. And I've continued to do so. So if you want to thank me, help the next person in need." And to say the least, I have. Not to say that I wouldn't have anyway, but those words have always stayed with me. So whenever I get the chance, I will pick up a hitchhiker. Because I want to be picked up when my luck turns.

True story.

[GreenCloud]

i don't have a car... so i guess i'm a lot more likely to be the one walking down the shoulder of the road hoping for a ride... if i did have a car though, i wouldnt mind a bit giving someone a ride(unless there's some reason for me to be wary of that particular hitcher). i figure it's a very small thing for me to do that just might be a very big deal to the person i'm giving a ride to.

[Cynthetiq]

Originally posted by Wile E
It all depends on the situation, but yes I have and will continue to. I have needed it quite a few times myself, and am more than grateful to extend what help I can. As far as car jackers go, there are way too many easier targets than me to choose, so its rarely a concern for me.

A year after I graduated from high school, my girlfriend at the time went to college after 4 hours from me. One night travelling to visit her, my truck broke down. Well, ran out of gas to be more precise. You see it was an old Bronco II and the gas gauge was broken and so was the odometer. There was no way to ever know how much gas was in there at all. Anyway, I'm in the middle of nowhere, USA, with some cows to keep me company when a man stops to see if everything was alright. Not only did he drive me 1/2hr to his house to get a gas can, he brought me to a gas station and back to my truck! He went an hour out of his way to help me. It blew me away. When I tried to compensate him for helping me, he said this, "When I was younger I broke down and was helped by an older man. When I offered him thanx, all he said was for me to pass this deed on. And I've continued to do so. So if you want to thank me, help the next person in need." And to say the least, I have. Not to say that I wouldn't have anyway, but those words have always stayed with me. So whenever I get the chance, I will pick up a hitchhiker. Because I want to be picked up when my luck turns.

True story.

yes... pass the deed on. I remember that from someone that I had picked up and did exactly that, drove them around for a few hours, but it was in So. Cal...

[phoenix1002]

I don't have a car, so this isn't much of an issue... But generally, I don't think I would. However, there are some cases where I might, mainly if I was in a town near the AT and saw someone who was obviously a hiker. Actually, that works both ways... At some point in my life, I'd like to hike the AT, and when I do, I hope that people will help me out when I need to get to towns.

[phredgreen]

i was rolling home from work one day and happened upon an old lady whose car was stopped at the side of the offramp - i stopped to see if all was okay and to ffer to let her use my phone, so she called her roadside assistance program fro help, but after wiating like half an hour it was getting hot, so i invited her to wait in my air conditioned car... bastard roadside monkey took an hour and a half to finnaly get there, during which we had a conversation about her just having moved into the valley... once she was taken care of i quietly headed back on my way home and i never heard from her again, but i'll always stop if i see someone witha busted car who might need a hand.

i've never had the opputunity to pick up a hitcher, but i think i'd just use my best judgement on whether or not i want that person occupying my car for any given amount of time... i'm not exactly the type to be fucked with so i don't have much of a fear of hitchers, but i'm not gonna let some nutcase occupy my vehicle. it's a case-by-case type thing.

[charlesesl]

i ran them over if nobody is around




(just kidding)

[frenik]

Originally posted by charlesesl
i ran them over if nobody is around

(just kidding)

Suuuuuurre you're just kidding... I'm calling the police.

I have never picked up a hitchhiker before. Around where I live, the only people I've ever seen walking on the road are people who's cars have broken down and they're walking to the nearest exits. Exits are at most a mile or two apart on the segment of highway I take to and from work, so I decide not to take the risk. Even though I'm a big guy, knives and guns + element of surprise gives a potential serial killer the advantage. But I'll almost always stop and help an elderly person, unless I'm in a severe hurry, partly because I fear them less and partly because of the "respect your elders" thing my parents beat into me.

When it comes to broken down cars on the side of the road (hood up, frustrated driver fiddling around inside while his wife yells at him for not having it looked at a week ago when it started thunking) I'll usually pull over and offer my help if I have spare time, even though I know very little about cars. Perhaps they can use my cell phone or something. That's a little different than a hitchhiker for some reason, maybe because broken-downs are obviously in distress, while a hitcher may just be walking and need a ride for convenience (or a patch for his skin suit).