Picture this: You’re cruising down a quiet highway, maybe somewhere between towns, when you spot a person on the shoulder with their thumb out. Your first thought might be curiosity—or maybe caution. Would you ever stop to pick them up and give them a ride?
There was a time when picking up strangers was almost part of the culture. Travelers helped each other out, swapping stories and sharing a few miles of road. But times have changed. Between true-crime headlines, safety concerns, and general wariness, most people today think twice—or don’t think about it at all.
Still, not everyone rules it out. Maybe some of you say you’d consider it if the situation felt right—maybe an older couple, a stranded hiker, or someone clearly in need.
Others remember being on the other side of that equation years ago, thankful for a ride when they needed one. (Have you ever been a hitchhiker?)
There’s something undeniably nostalgic about the idea of a hitchhiker—like a throwback to simpler, more trusting days. But in today’s world, it’s hard to separate that nostalgia from reality.
So tell us: What about you? Would you ever pick up a hitchhiker, or is that one road you wouldn’t travel down? Go ahead and vote, then tell us why you feel the way you do—we’re curious! Thanks!
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RVDT2776
I answered “Absolutely” because there wasn’t an “It depends” choice. I probably will help anyone unless I sense help ain’t what they’re after.
That’s a good sensible answer at least I think so.
I answered the same for just that reason.
Years ago I would pick up hitchhikers, but these days it doesn’t seem safe. Could be risky.
Same here. Haven’t done it since the 1960s.
I’ve spent a good a lot of time hitching myself (Virginia to Maine, Pensacola to Tampa…). I will still pick someone up locally.
I picked up hitchhikers back in the 60’s and early 70’s plus did some hitchhiking myself back then. Things have changed over the years which has made picking up ANY hitchhiker not advisable. Plus, in some places it is illegal to hitchhike. The only place I will stop for people stranded on the road is the Alaskan Highway which is an unwritten rule up there.
Never in this current climate.
In my younger days when people didn’t have cell phones I often picked up a hitchhiker, but will not do it now. As an older female, I’m no longer comfortable picking up hitchhikers. However, stopping to see if someone with car problems needs help is different story.
In my youth I might have if they were good looking, unfortunately none of them ever were. Now at my age, I will not as even a 12 year old could over power me and I don’t like being hurt.
I have in the past and just used my gut for which ones.
Now I haven’t picked up one in years, and it would depend on the situation.
In kayaking areas I have both hitch hiked and picked up as you have to drop your pick up vehicle in one place and start your ride in another place.
Now when I notice someone who looks like they are walking to work on a very cold or hot day I will offer them a ride and it usually gets accepted.
Never in usual travel, especially these days. We have occasionally given rides to hikers/backpackers in certain locations, where it is common, to get from one trailhead to another.
Back in the 70’s I hitchhiked and when I got my DL I would pick up those with their thumbs out.
Nowadays…in fact since the 90’s…we will not pick up any hitchhikers. Frankly, it was dangerous enough then and even more risky now.
Normally I don’t, simply because there are too many crazy or otherwise drug-addled people about. However, last time I did so was nearly 6 years ago. It was a young guy at near the exit of our local ski resort needing a ride down the mountain back to town. You typically don’t find many of our typical crazy types skiing, so I took him in. We had an interesting conversation on the way down the mountain. Turns out that he worked for the county health department, and this was early March, 2020. When he told me where he worked, I said “Your life is about to get very interesting.” And it was, as he had his first conference regarding COVID the next day.
Never. We watch lots of True Crime shows. Those innocent looking girls or guys can easily have a knife or firearm in their purse or pocket. Seen too many shows where the disabled vehicle is a setup to get someone to stop and offer assistance. I would be at their mercy and they get my good running vehicle too. No thanks. If the situation looked legitimate, I would call highway patrol to assist them.
I frequently used to hitchike home from college. I never gave a thought to the danger until my then-girlfriend (now my wife of 55- years) hitchhiked home from college one day. We were young, stupid and invulnerable!
I have picked up many hitchers back in the 50-70’s but no more! Too many nuts and entitled people running loose. I hitched myself in the early 50’s – as a Boy Scout, my dad tho’t I was getting a ride on a bus or something from summer camp which was not the case – so, I hitched home some 150 miles. I was in my BS uniform and had my duffel bag – had three rides as I recall. Today, as a youth, that would be risky for me! Also risky for this old man as well!
I said yes but only because I live in the middle of nowhere. A few years ago I was behind a car that you could tell was having issues. when they pulled over with steam coming out of the engine compartment. I stopped and since my cell phone worked and his didn’t he was able to get help. Another time driving in thick fog I see a car’s headlights in the ditch. Stopped and the lady got in and I drove us both into town 30 miles away.
Years ago I worked at a state park. A guy hung around a long time, asking questions a whole slew of reasonable questions for someone planning a day of major hiking while on a long bus + backpacking trip. Later in the day he was hitchhiking and we stopped and picked him up. His conversation started getting “odd” and he wound up asking us to drop him off in the middle of nowhere (despite “heading to see his mom” further north). We returned to the park to find there had been a break-in at the park storage room and he was the most likely suspect. My husband took him to where we’d dropped him. His pack was part of the stolen stuff. Never again have we picked up a hitchhiker.
The only hitchhikers I pick up are the ones that I know.
In 1953 the Army drafted me for Korea. In southern California on weekend pass to visiting home in Burbank there were a few times when I would hitch hike from Camp Roberts and back. Being in uniform was probably what made it easy to get rides. Interstate 5 was built in sections over several years and completed through the central valley from the Grapevine to Sacramento around 1971. In 1972 there were no stops or gas stations between Buttonwillow and just before Hwy 152, well over 100 miles. In the fall of 1972, I was driving from home to LA down I-5 and saw a man with a gas can coming from the station near 152. I picked him up and drove about 10 miles to his car with wife and kids waiting.
Of course. It sounds like an opportunity to learn something, have a great conversation while driving, and perhaps meet a new friend. Obviously, pay attention to your instincts when fist pulling over, but some of my best experiences in life are when I didn’t let fear rule the day and opened my heart to people from all walks of life.
Only one, but I doubt Shania hitch hikes much!