Picking up hitchhikers

[matchu865]

How many of y'all pick up hitchhikers? I was grateful to get picked up last weekend when I stupidly ran out of gas on the interstate 8 miles from the nearest gas station, that I was already planning to stop at. I was really surprised it only took a couple of minutes of walking and thumbing each way.

I plan to pay it forward, with caution, but curious how many of y'all stop to help someone out vs. drive by. Before this incident I never used to stop unless I saw the issue occur, but now I'm probably more likely to help out.

 

[norcalkh]

Generally always pick up people. I've received the favor more times than I can count. Definitely had some shady passengers, but I made through those ones.

 

[Marble]

Hell no....

Never say never... but i was a cop for far too long to be OK with picking up a hitch hiker. Might be a circumstance where it happens some day.

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[menhaden_man]

I did a bit of hitchhiking in the late 90s and picked a few up here and there.

 

[Pescetism]

Hardly any hitchhikers in this area but if I don't know them or they don't appear to be in a dire situation I'm driving by. Elderly person or a child walking in a snowstorm is going to get a different response than an adult dancing down the highway. I do feel bad that most of them likely just need help and aren't up to anything but there are far too many possible negative outcomes.

 

[TaperPin]

I picked up a guy who broke down and got car jacked. Reached under the seat for my 45 auto, but unfortunately had taken it out, probably for the best.

So, good luck.

 

[wapitibob]

In the woods yes, on the hwy no, unless she's alone and a cpl beers would smooth out the lumps.

 

[shader112]

I've picked up a few.

Best one was when I was in high school coming home from a house party in BFE. Guy limping down the highway I circled back and picked him up. He was covered in road rash. He said he was riding with his brother and they got in an argument. Said his brother told him to get out of the car, he responded your not big enough to make me get out of this car. He said apparently I was wrong because he got thrown out at 30 MPH

Drove him 30min away to what looked like a crack house

 

[ODB]

 

[Nickofthewoods]

I used to pick up hitchhikers somewhat regularly along the Front Range on the peak to peak highway. Mostly harmless boulder hippy types. One guy freaked me out though and I quit stopping altogether. He stunk so bad his odor remained in my truck for the next several days and that alone was reason enough to quit picking up hitchers. While I was driving I tried to make conversation but could only get one word answers from him so it became awkward pretty quickly. He had a small gym bag on his lap and at one point he quit answering my questions and got fidgety, then I notice his right hand went inside of the bag and just stayed there. He wasn't wearing the seatbelt so I had a plan to slam the breaks if he pulled a gun or knife out. I ultimately made an excuse to stop early and I made him get out which he wasn't very happy about. Sketchy MF.

 

[displacedtexan]

I have before, and would again.

It's on a case by case basis, no real specific algorithm. In general though if they seem to need help or be a dirtbag I'm far more likely to pick them up.

I'm a little surprised I've never hitched.

 

[snowymtnwolf]

Been hitch hiker and haven’t picked up (tho not recently).

Certain places it seems normal for outdoorsy people to do so.

Was also picked up in a ratty car and we ended up snapping axle and almost wrecking. Beware of being picked up, ha.

Middle of the night - I highly doubt I’d pick someone up, but situation dependent.

Always aware and alert.


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[DuckDogDr]

Not gonna say never …. But likely no.
On the flip side for me to get in a car with a stranger would take a lot of circumstances as well.

 

[Maverick1]

Pickup up hitchhikers???

 

[BRTreedogs]

It’s pretty rare. But I have occasionally. Usually if it’s colder or BFE, noticed a broke down vehicle is when I at least do a quick stop to check.
Especially if there cleaner cut, if you look homeless I’m not even slowing down.

In high school I saw a smoking hot girl hitchhiking and stopped, I kinda knew her. Damn she smelt of BO so bad I couldn’t of banged her with ear plugs up my nose.

Almost ran over a guy coming down hunting in the pouring rain, he was swearing a black rain slicker. Idk what his deal was cause he didn’t really even try to get out of the way.
Told me his battery went dead.

Last year I was driving across AZ on a 2 lane way out from town. Like I was worried about getting from gas station to station.

Noticed a broke down van and picked up a guy like 40 miles later.
He was a little sketchy. But not to bad.

 

[Jskaanland]

Depends where they're at. Actually stranded, yes. Somewhere in town, probably not.

 

[7mm-08]

The short answer is "no," but with a few exceptions - and one of those is when I have a witness who can handle himself and his firearm if things go south. I picked up a couple of bedraggled bowhunters walking south on Highway 55 near New Meadows about 10:00 P.M. one night. They looked like they had been drug behind a horse and they were thankful I stopped. Especially when I gave them a bunch of water. After 10 miles, "we" figured out that they were lost and their truck was a few miles north of where I picked them up. I took them back, of course. There are all kinds of bad stories about well intentioned folks who stop to assist others and end up in a bad situation or dead. The latter happened in Western Washington a number of years ago when a Good Samaritan stopped to help a couple whose vehicle appeared broken down along Interstate 5 north of Seattle. The male part of the couple killed the Good Samaritan with a hammer. No thanks to that risk!

 

[coloyooper]

I did once. He was some hippy shit from the Rainbow gathering. Gave me the worst weed I’ve ever had in return. Never again!

 

[RS_Non-Res]

I got a 40-mile ride in eastern OR in Fall 2023 from another hunter. I dumped my truck where it didn’t belong and couldn’t get it out. No cell service. I was a basket case. I really appreciated it. PM me if you’re the guy who gave me a ride.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Hell no…

A guy I knew. College got herpes from a hitchhiker ski bum chick he picked up.