Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22819 Location: UK

I can't remember the last time I saw a hitchhiker at the side of the road, bar the odd car delivery chap waving his trade plate at passing motorists. Are hitchhikers still out there? Have you ever given someone a lift?

RJ
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Ellis · Posted: Tue May 26, 2015 10:41 pm Post subject:

Hitchhikers?

Strangely enough, I was talking to my neighbour about the same subject only last week. Probably against the national trend this area of North Wales still does have quite a number and the majority are young people who have missed the service buses which take walkers and ramblers to the popular mountain orienteering areas.

Other than these, no, I hardly ever see hitchhikers these days.
There's always one, isn't there. There is one chap who tries to hitch a lift regularly around here, He always carries a red plastic petrol container and a motorcycle helmet and I, like many others have been duped into stopping.
You don't stop for a second time because his personal hygiene is, er, lacking and you have to drive with the front windows wide open.
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Starting Handle Expert

1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet

ka · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 600 Location: Orkney.

Hitch Hikers are a regular sight up here, far more frequent than the bus service.
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KA

Better three than four.

clan chieftain · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2041 Location: Motherwell

I would never stop to give anyone a lift. Too dodgy.
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The Clan Chieftain

Richard H · Joined: 03 Apr 2009 Posts: 2150 Location: Lincolnshire, UK

Funnily enough I saw the first hitchhiker I've ever seen, standing in a layby on the A2 near Canterbury thumbing a lift last week. You just don't see them down here. I nearly stopped for him but there was already a small hatchback reversing back towards the chap as I passed.
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Richard Hughes

Peter_L · Posted: Wed May 27, 2015 11:14 am Post subject:

In the 1970's, while touring Scotland, we took a few days holiday on Orkney. We hitch hiked around the islands, only time we have done that.

"Back in the day", it was common to stop for service men in uniform, but that changed when they were advised/ordered not to wear uniform off site.

I am afraid that now, we will not stop for hitch hikers. Not sure if the dangers have really increased or are perceived to be such because of global, wall to wall news coverage of every bad as**ed event.

I remember, back in the late 60's on one of my weekly carnal based trips to the Midlands, Sheffield-Ashbourne-Lichfield for those who know the run. I knew every foot of that road and would hurtle the Mini at each and every bend. I picked up a young man near Sudbury, who wanted to go to Birmingham. For some reason after about 4 miles he decided he wanted to visit a friend who lived at the rapidly approaching petrol station.

As school kids, 11-16, some of us were known to hitch hike part of the way home and keep our bus fare money. It was usually trucks drivers, but sometimes the local bus would slow down and we would hop on and stand on the back platform.

ka · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 600 Location: Orkney.

I am pleased to say, that Orkney is 50years behind the mainland, hitchhikers are picked up, and single females walk the streets alone!
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KA

Better three than four.

Riley Blue · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 1751 Location: Derbyshire

I saw three hitchers last week, students I should imagine but I can't for the life of me remember where - anywhere between London and Edinburgh and back as that's where I'd been. The only other ones I've seen in recent years have also been students but on a mass 'jail break' where they have to get as far as possible within a set time. The ones I saw, in Sheffield, were holding cards reading 'Dover'.

In my own student days I hitched every weekend, usually to Reading (girlfriend) or London (music) and at various times had lifts in a chauffeur driven Rolls Royce which had a single lady in the back - she liked young men..., an Austin Seven special driven by a complete nutter (maximum attack everywhere!), a weirdo in a Dormobile (lucky I was with a mate) and a Bond three-wheeler (twice, same bloke).
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David

1963 Riley 1.5
1965 Riley 1.5

clan chieftain · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2041 Location: Motherwell

So you were in the Rolls Royce more than once. Shocked

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The Clan Chieftain

Bitumen Boy · Posted: Wed May 27, 2015 7:33 pm Post subject:

Ah, but how old was this single lady in the Rolls..?

52classic · Joined: 02 Oct 2008 Posts: 493 Location: Cardiff.

Hadn't heard the expression 'hitch-hiking' for years and TBH I think I would be reluctant to pick anyone up now.

My recollections go back to the late 60's when in my pre driving licence days, I would hitch most everywhere.

Usually starting from outside the railway station at Caerphilly. My most frequent route during the school holidays was the 20 miles or so to Rhoose airport because in those days my passion for aeroplanes exceeded that for cars. I had managed to establish myself as a 'gofor' down there, often managing to exchange errands for flying time! Happy days!

All in all I found hitching to be a positive and 'formative' experience. You meet nice people and strange people - sometimes both at the same time.

My strangest lift was in an FX3 Hearse complete with undertaker and coffin (Mercifully it was not occupied - the driver was on the way to pick up from the hospital mortuary).

Rootes75 · Posted: Wed May 27, 2015 10:00 pm Post subject:

When at college bout 20ish years back we used to hitch everywhere, now I never see any hitchers.

As many gave me a lift I would generally stop for a hitcher, once I surprised the life out of a young lad when I stopped in the Karrier Bantam!
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badhuis · Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 1476 Location: Netherlands

Rootes75 · Posted: Wed May 27, 2015 11:09 pm Post subject:

Yes, registered August 1978. One of the last. Interestingly, we travelled down into Devon today and we saw a couple of lorries belonging to one of my Bantam's previous owners.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

Da Tow'd · Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 4:51 am Post subject:

I hitch hiked across the States back in the '60 and was dropped off in Chicago at night. A older black man stopped and said," you are either a tough mother phucker or real stupid- get in".
He then drove me out of his way to a freeway on ramp.
He told me that the Ni&&ers back there would mess me up. And that nobody would ever hear from you again.
last thing he said to me was, "call your mother tonight and tell her you love her"
true story.

We live in a real small valley now and everybody knows everybody
so yes I pick up hitch hikers

Hank