Hitch-hikers

aardvaak

I was out today and saw a hitch-hiker trying (unsuccessfully) to get a lift.

I have not seen this for a long time - does anyone know why?

Does it happen a lot less often nowadays?

Retrogamer

I see it not and again in my area but it's much more rare than it used to be.

[Deleted User]

Students have more money to blow on getting drunk etc,we re better off than 30 years ago, less people will actually stop for someone sticking his/her thumb out by the road.people have a health and safety risk free life stuffed down their throats and are scared of strangers.
I was stuck in a small village last year with no public transport and was trying to get back to the town of Helmsley N.Yorks and tried hitching. I m a decent harmless looking, old chappie with a rucksack and was a full three hours before someone stopped. Unless you re a single woman I would nt recommend hitching to anyone. The UK is now what France was like when I tried it in the 1970 s..hopeless.

MacMickster

sacsquacco wrote: »

Unless you re a single woman I would nt recommend hitching to anyone.

Are you serious? I certainly wouldn't advise women on their own to try hitch-hiking. I'm sure that they would find it easier to get (taken for) a ride BUT.......

[Deleted User]

MacMickster wrote: »

Are you serious? I certainly wouldn't advise women on their own to try hitch-hiking. I'm sure that they would find it easier to get (taken for) a ride BUT.......

Like I said, its a health n safety culture here in the UK. I think its pretty sad when up comes the "are you serious " brigade with a statement like that. what do you mean by "but " ? Young women are quite happy to be walking alone drunk late at night after a night out so why is hitch hiking alone so dangerous compared to that. ?

ElefantEd

I gave a lift to a hitchhiker last year, first one I've seen for ages. It was only a few miles up the A1, but at least I left him somewhere it would be easier to get a lift from than the middle of nowhere.

maddogb

In decline since the 1986 when the Rutger Hauer, film "The Hitcher" was released

marleyboy

Never have nor would pick up a hitch hiker, on the same tip I never have and never would hitch hike.

eamon

Its down to perceived risk on both sides and also employed truck drivers due to insurance reasons won't carry non work related passengers. It 10 or more years since I last picked up a hitch hiker and on long distance drives you don't see many or any for that matter.

Strider590

These days they're usually guys delivering either cars for car dealerships OR truckers who've dropped off their truck at a depot near to their last drop.

They get extra money to get them a train ticket back home, which can be 100's of miles away (= £80+). So what they do is hitch-hike a lift with a trucker and pocket the extra cash.
Truckers will usually pick them up for a small fee.

Gloomendoom

I used to hitch when I was younger which is probably why I do tend to stop. Hitch-hikers certainly are less common than they used to be.

I gave a lift to a young lad a year or so ago and he didn't seem too happy when he realised that my car didn't have any seatbelts.