Discussion
Driving around Berkshire today and a bloke with a backpack with a sign starts with his thumb up on the other side of the road.
Has anyone ever picked up a hitchhiker and why do they do it? Is this some human condition where they just can't survive finding there way without hitching, are they born blaggers or is this just unexplainable.
I'd never pick up myself, the risks are too high.
Has anyone ever picked up a hitchhiker and why do they do it? Is this some human condition where they just can't survive finding there way without hitching, are they born blaggers or is this just unexplainable.
I'd never pick up myself, the risks are too high.
Me and a mate were driving to Charleroi in Belgium a few years back. Two young lads at the services were hitch hiking, we walked past them on the way to the car then as we were driving out we said at the same time 'shall we pick them up' 
They were trying to go from France to Russia, French but spoke perfect english, nice lads and we had a laugh with them for a few hours. Dropped them at the main town on the way to our hotel, we followed them on social media and they made it to Russia in the end. Still friends on FB now I think!
They were trying to go from France to Russia, French but spoke perfect english, nice lads and we had a laugh with them for a few hours. Dropped them at the main town on the way to our hotel, we followed them on social media and they made it to Russia in the end. Still friends on FB now I think!
I used to hitch up and down to London and then when I passed my test I used to pick up anyone I thought wasn't dodgy but I haven't seen a hitcher for decades.
If we're out and about in the lakes and see a walker/s trudging along a road in the middle of nowhere we'll always stop to offer a lift.
If we're out and about in the lakes and see a walker/s trudging along a road in the middle of nowhere we'll always stop to offer a lift.
When you get INTO a car, you don't know whether the driver is a psycho or not, works both ways.
Hitch hiking was very popular in the 1960, gave and accepted many a lift back then.
The final straw was when I picked a bloke up in 1973 on the M5 slip road at Cheltenham in my Triumph Spitfire 2 seater, I dropped him off at Knutsford services near Manchester, for over two hours he never said a word, despite me trying to make conversation, and when he got out, he never even said thanks,
Come to think of it, he might have been deaf and dumb.
Hitch hiking was very popular in the 1960, gave and accepted many a lift back then.
The final straw was when I picked a bloke up in 1973 on the M5 slip road at Cheltenham in my Triumph Spitfire 2 seater, I dropped him off at Knutsford services near Manchester, for over two hours he never said a word, despite me trying to make conversation, and when he got out, he never even said thanks,
Come to think of it, he might have been deaf and dumb.
Yeah a few times recently, although not all were actively thumbing.
Picked up a
once walking out of Banbury. Amiable fella but stank of booze once he got in and i instantly regretted it. Anyway 15 min drive to a semi-perm site i knew well went without issue except he was disappointed i didn't recognise his name as it seems he was from a "known" family.
A few locals walking on a dangerous road back to my village and everyone is grateful.
I was thumbing it years ago down to my sisters uni in Swansea from Preston. One trucker happily smoking weed but again uneventful.
Picked up a
once walking out of Banbury. Amiable fella but stank of booze once he got in and i instantly regretted it. Anyway 15 min drive to a semi-perm site i knew well went without issue except he was disappointed i didn't recognise his name as it seems he was from a "known" family.A few locals walking on a dangerous road back to my village and everyone is grateful.
I was thumbing it years ago down to my sisters uni in Swansea from Preston. One trucker happily smoking weed but again uneventful.
Back in the 70s, I hitched from Bangor the Chester, on a Friday, with relative ease.
On the Sunday, it started well, with an Alfasud Ti, driven in a spirited fashion, by a keen driver, eager to share the Alfa spirit. Not for long though and I recall that by Colwyn Bay, I was in a suffocating and hot Reliant Regal that I elected to get out of, rather than continue the torture.
It took an eternity before I got another lift in this fragmented epic travel opus and I swore I would never do it again.
And didn't.
On the Sunday, it started well, with an Alfasud Ti, driven in a spirited fashion, by a keen driver, eager to share the Alfa spirit. Not for long though and I recall that by Colwyn Bay, I was in a suffocating and hot Reliant Regal that I elected to get out of, rather than continue the torture.
It took an eternity before I got another lift in this fragmented epic travel opus and I swore I would never do it again.
And didn't.
One reason for fewer people at the side of the road might be the rise of the likes of blablacar. Where you can offer/look for lifts from the comfort of your own phone.
Not hitched or offered lifts in a long while, since I was car delivering, but mostly positive experiences.
Interestingly I was once driving someone who was in the Sunday Times rich list at the time who instructed me to pick up a hitch hiker at the exit to a service area. Made for an interesting conversation particularly when the hiker was describing a location that my client flew over to get to his private island :-)
Not hitched or offered lifts in a long while, since I was car delivering, but mostly positive experiences.
Interestingly I was once driving someone who was in the Sunday Times rich list at the time who instructed me to pick up a hitch hiker at the exit to a service area. Made for an interesting conversation particularly when the hiker was describing a location that my client flew over to get to his private island :-)
Back in my student days I spent a week on a narrow boat on the Birmingham Canal with nine student mates and a dog. At the end of the week we had to get back to Southampton in two cars. Only eight could fit in so I said I'd hitch back. I waved them off and started hitching. Just 10 minutes later a car stopped ' where are you trying to get to mate?' 'Southampton'.....'where about's in Southampton?' 'St Mary's'.......'Which Street!?' He actually lived two streets away and dropped me at the door of my student house. When my mates got back an hour after me, having stopped for lunch, I opened the door to them, the looks on their faces were priceless.
I can't remember the last time I saw a hitch hiker, not for a few years now, I doubt if I'd stop for one now - too dangerous.
I can't remember the last time I saw a hitch hiker, not for a few years now, I doubt if I'd stop for one now - too dangerous.
When I was in college in London, I often hitched home l home to Kent. Later, I used to give people lifts. Before we married, my wife and I hitched through France. That was late 1960s early 1970s, it was the zeitgeist.. Traffic was slower, it was easier to stop, more social bonds. You rarely see it nowadays.
Did a bit in the 70s and 80s. Once got a lift in a Rolls. Another time the driver had a revolver in the glove compartment. That was the first lift of 3 to get us to our destination 25 miles away from Glasgow. Never waited more than half a dozen cars.
It was never that good again. Hitching up and down from Glen Coe was hit or miss.
I was climbing in North Wales. We had driven down. We met two guys from my pals club. Both hitched down from Glasgow. One took 8 hours the other 2 days. A lottery.
It was never that good again. Hitching up and down from Glen Coe was hit or miss.
I was climbing in North Wales. We had driven down. We met two guys from my pals club. Both hitched down from Glasgow. One took 8 hours the other 2 days. A lottery.
Edited by irc on Thursday 9th October 07:47
1. Most recently picked up a bloke in the Peak District. Smelt a bit boozy but was fine.
2. 20 years ago in my early 20s I drove the Australian east coast. Picked up a bloke that looked exactly like Nicholas cage. Was how we got girls for several weeks - his visual appearance and the similarity was our opening gambit
My observation really is that if someone wanted to attack you and nick your car, there are plenty of opportunities to do that without sticking your thumb out. “Culture of fear” is alive and well.
2. 20 years ago in my early 20s I drove the Australian east coast. Picked up a bloke that looked exactly like Nicholas cage. Was how we got girls for several weeks - his visual appearance and the similarity was our opening gambit
My observation really is that if someone wanted to attack you and nick your car, there are plenty of opportunities to do that without sticking your thumb out. “Culture of fear” is alive and well.
30+ years ago I was driving from Cornwall back to home in Kent on the A303 in the pouring rain, when I spotted someone hitchhiking. I felt sorry for the poor sod, but balanced that against the leather interior and carpets of my 1 month old Saab 900SE Turbo Coupe getting soaked from a hitchhiker. Then guilt set in and I dutifully reversed back to pick him up.
I asked him where he was heading (Warminster) and said I would drop him off at the A350 junction. He was a very well spoken and engaging chap. As we got close to the A350, the rain got worse and as I was in no hurry, I would drop him off in Warminster.
Closer to Warminster he said to head towards Longleat, and we approached the ticket booths. Once we stopped at the booth, he leant over and said "Good morning Susan, could you give this fine chap some complimentary tickets? He's just going to drop me off at the house."
Lord Baff.
I asked him where he was heading (Warminster) and said I would drop him off at the A350 junction. He was a very well spoken and engaging chap. As we got close to the A350, the rain got worse and as I was in no hurry, I would drop him off in Warminster.
Closer to Warminster he said to head towards Longleat, and we approached the ticket booths. Once we stopped at the booth, he leant over and said "Good morning Susan, could you give this fine chap some complimentary tickets? He's just going to drop me off at the house."
Lord Baff.
A friend was hitching from Drymen to Glasgow. Got picked up by a young guy and his girlfriend. He was an "enthusiastic" driver. 10 minutes later at a well known blackspot the car left the road, flew off an embankment with enough height to clear a fence, and landed in a boggy field which cushioned the impact.
Nobody hurt. The car ended up hitting the fence of a cottage. The owner came out and rather than enquire as to injuries swore at them for being the latest people to damage his fence.
Nobody hurt. The car ended up hitting the fence of a cottage. The owner came out and rather than enquire as to injuries swore at them for being the latest people to damage his fence.
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