Giving Strangers/Hitchhikers A Ride

Growing up in Illinois? Yeah, quite a bit.

After moving to South Carolina? Not so much.

 

I don't mind giving hitchhikers a lift or stopping to help someone on the side of the road. But I'm always carrying my concealed .357 Mag, so I'm not as hesitant as some people

 

Gave a ride to a young couple while driving through Wyoming in 1989. Nice clean hippies whose old beater had gone it's last mile. Picked them up just inside the Colorado/Wyoming line and dropped them off in Buffalo. Along the way, there was a lot of small talk, smoking, etc. They were cool but out of another decade. At one point, the guy offered to let me do his wife if I put them up for the night in a hotel. Considering I could already see her hairy armpits, I politely declined the opportunity.

True story. Looking back on it, I wish I had screwed that hairy hippie chick.

Nowadays, I won't stop unless I witness an accident.

 

This. ^^^ Always been my cardinal rule with picking people up. If getting to their destination isn't important enough to them to walk, then it sure as hell isn't important to me. I've been picking up hitchhikers for over 30 years and I see no reason to stop now. I do use common sense, but I can take care of myself and don't worry about someone being stupid enough to pull a weapon on me when I'm in control of the vehicle they're riding in. We watch too much shock news in the US these days that's designed to keep us afraid of each other. I've never had any issues beyond dirty people stinking up my vehicle, but after all, it's just a truck and I know where to buy Febreeze.

 

Never have and I doubt I would. Though when I was about 12 me and the fam were heading to Laughlin, NV to meet up with some other family for the weekend. We hit the half a tank mark and instead of stopping to put gas at a station we passed at that point, my mom and dad thought we would see another station before the last 1/2 ran out. Needless to say, we didn't see another gas station and ran out of gas in the middle of the desert at about 9/10pm. This was before cell phones were so widely used so we were basically stuck. I could hear my parents talking about staying the night in the car and hope the family already in Laughlin would come looking for us. Luckily a couple stopped and asked if we needed help. My mom took up the offer and they drove her about 10 miles to a gas station, filled up a gas can and they brought her back. I have benefited from it, so maybe one day I'll return the favor.

 

I always try to pick up skiers/boarders who are hiking or need a ride to the top of the hill. They just know to hop in the bed and get comfy. People around here are pretty nice about picking up skiers and boarders.

 

I have. I saw two women trying to climb a steep hill by the freeway. Their car had run out of gas. I honked and waved them back. I took them up to the gas station and drove them back to their car.

The lady told me she was once a victim of a car jacking and was hospitalized after the thief smashed her face with his gun. After she told me that, I was kind of surprised they would accept a ride from a stranger.

Generally I don't pick up someone who is hitchhiking though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIC90Vnc-OI

 

I usually pick them up and tell them they can have a ride as long as they don't mind the .45 I keep pointed at them....this only works if you drive an automatic

 

I think he picked up a hooker.

 

I don't pick up hitchhikers, but if I see someone walking and I am driving past on a slower street, I will drive along side them and chat a bit and then based on that I will invite them in.

 

Did you try bargaining? That sounds high to me.

 

I bet she'd accept $50 if you paid her in coke.

 

Well, THIS is timely....
http://www.baltimoresun.com/feature...ohn-waters-in-kansas-20120521,0,7174348.story

 

I hitched hiked in HI once after a pearl jam concert. I didnt bring my wallet or phone so I wouldnt lose them, instead I lost my friends. Got picked up by a couple chicks in a beater corolla. Started asking me questions like if I had any credit cards or cash. They stopped at a gas station and I bounced. I am pretty sure they would have robbed me, but I only had an ID on me. Last time I will ever hitch hike