Does hitchiking really work? - Page 2 - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

a2k · 09-18-2003, 05:03 PM

Used to live in New Zealand, where hitch hiking is fairly common. People see a guy in his twenties with his thumb out, and instead of thinking "psycho", they think "trying to get home to visit mom". I got rides with a priest, a police man, a mom with her two young kids in the car, the CEO of the national electric company... the list goes on. Met some great people. Got invited into their homes for dinner. But that was New Zealand. The US is a much bigger and much less trustworthy nation.

I don't hitch myself here, and I pretty much only pick up people in ski towns on the way to the mountain. In Snowmass, if you have 4 or more people, you don't have to pay to park at the base of the hill so a hitch hiker or two can be a real money saver.

Meridae'n · 09-18-2003, 05:22 PM

In Australia its pretty common, especially from foreigners. I pick them up maybe 20% of the time... they're usually good for a yarn.

I know a bloke that picked one up 100kms north of Perth (West coast) and took him all they way to Melbourne (East coast) which is about 4 days drive away.

Semi-Normal · 09-18-2003, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mango
Do not walk and hitch as it makes it look like you are going a short distance (short enough to walk)

Interesting - my old man doesn't pick up hitchers who aren't walking and hitching because he thinks they should be making some effort to get there themselves.

striker3303 · 09-18-2003, 09:36 PM

I think it went out in the early eighties, although I really know nothing.

laxative · 09-18-2003, 10:08 PM

I hitchhiked a lot ten or so years ago. Mostly to and from and in between concerts. Found most of my rides in the parking lots but occasionally found myself walking when a ride didn't work out. I've stood under those signs that forbid picking up hitchhikers because of a nearby prison and gotten rides. Never stuck out my thumb or anything, just walked and collected rides. Sometimes I walked a long-ass way.

I usually pick 'em up too. I won't pick up old people or anybody sitting on their ass on the side of the road. Never had a bad experience picking one up - quite a few crazy but harmless guys that didn't really know where they were going or where they were. Had quite a few fucked up experiences getting rides, including speeding drunks, violent rednecks, and a bearded lady that couldn't keep her nasty hand outta my pants.

laxative · 09-18-2003, 10:12 PM

I've also gotten written warnings from police who then leave you standing on the side of the same freeway they just tried to ticket you for walking along. Fucking geniuses.

YzermanS19 · 09-19-2003, 08:26 AM

As for my personal experience with it, I've only actually been picked up once after my car broke down. And that was from someone I knew. When they picked me up it was about a block from where I wanted to go anyway. I appreciated it though, they said they saw me walking when they drove by earlier.

I'm suprised. I'd never pick up anyone I didn't know I don't think. Unless I felt particularly compelled to help them. I do believe I would pull over to help some woman to change a tire, but besides that, they're on their own.

Just too risky. I usually carry a lot of cash, and I have a lot of valuable crap in my car (stereo, CDs, etc), so its not worth it.

j8ear · 09-19-2003, 09:10 AM

I've hitch-hiked and/or picked up hitch-hikers between Quebec City and Montreal a bunch of times. Had some odd experiences, but never unpleasant ones. I've never picked up some one by my self, and have only been picked up solo. No problem. Usually everyone just splits the gas.

Also in this little farm town in Jersey, a huge national trail runs through that people are often waiting by the road on. With a three mile walk to the market. I pick those people up all the time. They've been walking a long way and have a long way to go still. What ever I can do.

I'm very curious about that Cuban thing too.

-bear

09-18-2003, 05:22 PM	#42 (permalink)
Meridae'n Loose Cunt Location: North Bondi RSL	In Australia its pretty common, especially from foreigners. I pick them up maybe 20% of the time... they're usually good for a yarn. I know a bloke that picked one up 100kms north of Perth (West coast) and took him all they way to Melbourne (East coast) which is about 4 days drive away. __________________ What's easier to believe: that a guy was born without sex in the manner of several Greek demigods and grew up to be able to transmute liquids and alter his body density yet couldn't escape government execution, or that three freemasons in a vehicle made with aluminum foil in an era before digital technology escaped our atmosphere, landing on the moon, broadcasted from there, and then flew back without burning up?

09-18-2003, 09:36 PM	#44 (permalink)
striker3303 Tilted Location: Olympia, WA	no I think it went out in the early eighties, although I really know nothing. __________________ Green mustard is the salvation

09-19-2003, 08:26 AM	#47 (permalink)
YzermanS19 not your typical god-fearing junkie Location: State of Confusion	As for my personal experience with it, I've only actually been picked up once after my car broke down. And that was from someone I knew. When they picked me up it was about a block from where I wanted to go anyway. I appreciated it though, they said they saw me walking when they drove by earlier. I'm suprised. I'd never pick up anyone I didn't know I don't think. Unless I felt particularly compelled to help them. I do believe I would pull over to help some woman to change a tire, but besides that, they're on their own. Just too risky. I usually carry a lot of cash, and I have a lot of valuable crap in my car (stereo, CDs, etc), so its not worth it. __________________ the light that burns twice as bright burns half as long and you have burned so very, very brightly

09-19-2003, 09:10 AM	#48 (permalink)
j8ear Gentlemen Farmer Location: Middle of nowhere, Jersey	I've hitch-hiked and/or picked up hitch-hikers between Quebec City and Montreal a bunch of times. Had some odd experiences, but never unpleasant ones. I've never picked up some one by my self, and have only been picked up solo. No problem. Usually everyone just splits the gas. Also in this little farm town in Jersey, a huge national trail runs through that people are often waiting by the road on. With a three mile walk to the market. I pick those people up all the time. They've been walking a long way and have a long way to go still. What ever I can do. I'm very curious about that Cuban thing too. -bear __________________ It's alot easier to ask for forgiveness then it is to ask for permission.

09-18-2003, 05:03 PM	#41 (permalink)
a2k Crazy Location: Seattle	Used to live in New Zealand, where hitch hiking is fairly common. People see a guy in his twenties with his thumb out, and instead of thinking "psycho", they think "trying to get home to visit mom". I got rides with a priest, a police man, a mom with her two young kids in the car, the CEO of the national electric company... the list goes on. Met some great people. Got invited into their homes for dinner. But that was New Zealand. The US is a much bigger and much less trustworthy nation. I don't hitch myself here, and I pretty much only pick up people in ski towns on the way to the mountain. In Snowmass, if you have 4 or more people, you don't have to pay to park at the base of the hill so a hitch hiker or two can be a real money saver.

09-18-2003, 10:08 PM	#45 (permalink)
laxative Loser Location: the bathroom	I hitchhiked a lot ten or so years ago. Mostly to and from and in between concerts. Found most of my rides in the parking lots but occasionally found myself walking when a ride didn't work out. I've stood under those signs that forbid picking up hitchhikers because of a nearby prison and gotten rides. Never stuck out my thumb or anything, just walked and collected rides. Sometimes I walked a long-ass way. I usually pick 'em up too. I won't pick up old people or anybody sitting on their ass on the side of the road. Never had a bad experience picking one up - quite a few crazy but harmless guys that didn't really know where they were going or where they were. Had quite a few fucked up experiences getting rides, including speeding drunks, violent rednecks, and a bearded lady that couldn't keep her nasty hand outta my pants.

09-18-2003, 10:12 PM	#46 (permalink)
laxative Loser Location: the bathroom	I've also gotten written warnings from police who then leave you standing on the side of the same freeway they just tried to ticket you for walking along. Fucking geniuses.