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...ever pick up a hitchhiker?
I saw someone on the side of the road today on my way to work. I was alone in my car, so I didn't stop (even though I felt really badly about it). However, when I was a teenager (and obviously way dumber), I did stop once. Luckily, I was safe.
Have you or would you ever picked up one? This being a board of primarily guys, I'm guessing the answers may vary.
well, as a 5'3 female...........never in a million years! I watch way too many episodes of Criminal Minds to know how that would end for me.
think about it every time I see it but never jump on the opportunity
5'2" here - same thought process, doesn't sound like a good long-term decision.Quote:
Originally Posted by cowgirl836
I've stopped at stalled cars and given people rides to gas stations or into town quite a few times. I've never picked up a "true" hitchhiker though.
If I'm by myself in car I always stop if nobody is already helping broke down car, if my family is with me no way. I'll pick up a "clean" hitchhiker and have in the past if I'm alone. No way I offer a ride if they are scurvy or I have kids or wife in car.
When a buddy and I were on our way back to Iowa from California (we'd just gotten out of the Navy), we picked up a couple (guy & gal) outside of Golden CO. They looked like they weren't sure whether they should get in with us or not, but did. We took them to Topeka and had a couple shots with them at his bar, before continuing our trip to Clarinda.
Another time, I was on my way to Dubuque from Ames for Christmas. Saw a car broke down outside of Waterloo, and about half a mile later saw a hitch hiker and stopped. Some kid, not dressed for the weather, trying to get to his Dad's place in Galena ILL. I dropped him off at the bus station in Dubuque, gave him my last $20, and my stocking hat. Hope he made out okay.
These were before I had a wife, kids, and something to lose. Now that everyone has a cell phone, typically if I see someone stranded, I'll call the HP.
he was going to walk/hike to Galena?! why not call the dad?!
It's good to hear that so many people have good hearts.
My one pick-up was of someone whose car had broken down. I felt for some reason like that was safer than just a random person hanging out on the side of the road... although, if you're a serial killer, that's actually probably a genius way to do it (kind of like how Ted Bundy used to fake he had a broken arm).
Stalled vehicle, yes. Hitchhiker, no.
Its possible. I suggested that he try to call his dad at the bus station. This was long before cell phones.Quote:
Originally Posted by cowgirl836
I have thought about it because I do drive quite a bit, but I have never have. Half the time I look at the person and say to myself that they look pretty dirty to be getting in my car. I imagine they must smell pretty bad to boot.
I only pick up women that are 5'2" or 5'3". :twitcy:
A true hitchhiker with a sign or thumb out, probably not because of family. I have given a burger and fries from McDonalds to a hitchhiker on a couple of occasions.
I have helped stranded motorists and people walking along the road. I think walking along the road shows something different than a true hitchhiker.
I've helped out three times.
First one the car behind me spun out on ice and went in the ditch on a lightly traveled county road in southern Iowa. Gave the couple and their kid a ride to Des Moines. They offered money, I declined.
The other two were both people who had cars that were out of gas. Both on I35. Both I helped give rides to a gas station. One I gave a ride back the other got help from friends at the town.
I have done it one time. I was still in high school and on my way to town and drove past an old broken down truck along the side of the road. About a half mile later, I come across an old farmer walking down the road to town. I stopped to give him a lift, he was very gracious and offered me some money but I turned it down. Turns out we became friends and he even came to a couple of my baseball games later that summer.Quote:
Originally Posted by Angie