Do you pick up hitchhikers?

[bitslice]

Prompted by the thread about the US, have you ever stopped to pick up a hitchhiker by the roadside?

I do this all the time but it baffles me why nobody else seems to, once a teenager from Spain was apparently waiting for 3 hours before I turned up, it made me feel a bit ashamed of my country that so many people had just driven by and ignored him (not all of them would have been more.important.than.you BMW drivers!).

Others appear to hitch one by one because apparently people don't stop for a group of hikers?

I pick up a lot of the people who have just dropped off somebodies car or lorry, it just seems like the normal thing to do to me
I'm not going out of my way and I get to meet somebody new.

 

[rotters]

No, I don't like to take risks with my life.

 

[Judgeneo]

I've hitch hiked a couple of times before (Coventry -> Berlin, and Coventry -> Paris), and its a LOT easier to get a lift on the continent than it is in this country.

 

[yer_averagejoe]

Good for you. I've not tried hitch hiking in this country but I'd expect I'd be ok in the highlands or any remote area really. The less cars there are on a road, the more likely you are to be picked up, funnily enough.

 

[SlyReaper]

It's not hard to understand why most people wouldn't. Most people regard their car as a private space, so it's understandable that they'd feel uncomfortable about inviting a complete stranger into it.

 

[davedudes]

I think it's potato time!

 

[Raymond Lin]

Nope, why?

Too many variables: from getting myself in danger to I don't have time, my car is full, not going to where he is going or even he looks dirty.

I am sure if its a pretty girl who is well dressed and clean and looks like I could win in a fight then I'll give it a second thought.

Generally, no.

 

[King Damager]

I wouldn't pick up a group. It would also depend on the appearance of said person and stuff...

Haven't actually seen a hitchhiker in a loooong time (like over five years to be fair)

kd

 

[Westyfield2]

I never actually have... but thinking about it I'd pick up someone holding trade plates but not otherwise.

 

[Saytan]

once picked up a hot young blonde czech girl on a stag-do tourbus (1 million stag do awesome points!)

got back to my house, i dropped her the rest of the way home in my car. she gave me her number. i lost it. doh.

 

[robgmun]

Must have been over a decade since i last saw someone thumbing for a lift

 

[Housey]

I have once, my father beans were lonely

 

[alistair55]

I never actually have... but thinking about it I'd pick up someone holding trade plates but not otherwise.

same here ,he must be fairly trusted to have trade plates

 

[Hagar]

I used to hitchhike all the time, all over the country. This was in the 70's. Not so common now to see people hitchhiking but I would certainly consider it. As for groups, I once stopped for three MUFC supporters at the height of the red army and football hooliganism. I think they were so pleased to get a lift that they were very well behaved and polite. I have had the odd panhandler asking for money but they got dropped off very quickly. I am a bloke and was quite handy and did not put up with any hassle.

 

[KatanaDV20]

I would like to stop for them but I too am too wary and afraid to do so.

If I see a pretty girl...that just makes me step on the gas even more. Yea Im paranoid but I see a hot girl by her lonesome = most likely a trap. Stop for her and the carjackers appear while you help stuff her backpack in the back. Sound ridiculous I know but its whats kept me from stopping. Its a fear I have.

On an unrelated note: Ive experienced an attempted carjacking @ a red light in the US.

 

[Zero Pope]

Yes I have, I've picked up groups before as well. Nothing wrong with being nice every once in a while. I've even gone out of my way to drop them off where they wanted to be.

 

[TheBigCheese]

I have once, my father beans were lonely

 

[[FnG]magnolia]

Yes but only so I can later wear them as a skin suit.

 

[KatanaDV20]

Yes but only so I can later wear them as a skin suit.

Haha! Hey was that what the Jeepers Creepers guy did! I want that truck he had lol.

 

[LizardKing]

Would i ever pick one up? tbh the chances of me being in such a position of being able to are pretty thin. i'm only ever going to and from work or i'll have the wife and kid in the car.

Else i've no problem helping some one out, but car delivery people can swivel as they get paid travel expenses.