| would you pick up a hitch hiker on a cold night or any night??
Posted: 6/4/2008 8:59:47 PM | | The question is..would you pick up a hitch hiker on a cold night or any night??This might be a gamble maybe even with your life..but still.. in australia it is not illegal..would you pick up a hitch hiker because of something silly ect..that person was good looking..what are your thoughts.. | |
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| hitch hiker
Posted: 6/4/2008 10:00:46 PM | Not my policy to pick up hitch hikers of either sex at anytime of the day. It's just not a good idea, either for them to be doing it, or for you to pick them up. I'll admit I have picked them up, but only because there was a serious looking storm approaching or it was the hottest day of the year. Some people just look genuine as well, like their car broke down a few mile back or something and they probably don't even have their thumb out. Been there myself ( haven't we all?), or it could be an elderly person.
At night? That's a tough one. They are either a) broke, or too tight to get a bus, b) have very poor time management /organisational skills and should learn from this experience, c) desperate or drunk enough to be there, or d) their car broke down or they've crashed and they don't have a mobile phone. I guess the last scenario would be something you would have to assess as you approached, but other than that, you need to get home safely too. Just remember the Flaconio case. It was a "breakdown" on a lonely road. Oldest trick in the book. Pays to be in the RACQ or what ever you guys have in your state. | |
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| hitch hiker
Posted: 6/4/2008 10:37:20 PM |
the Flaconio case
Spelling edit: make that the Falconio case  | |
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| hitch hiker
Posted: 6/4/2008 11:16:54 PM | CHILLING........ | |
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| hitch hiker
Posted: 6/4/2008 11:21:22 PM | | Why are you even asking this {roses}???????? | |
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| hitch hiker
Posted: 6/5/2008 12:03:02 AM |
Why are you even asking this {roses}????????
Why not? There are plenty of hitch hikers out there..somebody must pick them up. | |
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| hitch hiker
Posted: 6/5/2008 12:09:21 AM | I wouldn't.
Why are you even asking this {roses}???????? Actually I think this is a good question. Well done {roses}  Would you pick up a hitch hiker? | |
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| hitch hiker
Posted: 6/5/2008 12:27:47 AM | Sid.....You forgot option 5.....Hitch hiking can be a great way to travel and meet interesting people.
Having said that, my hitch hiking days were quite a while ago, and it is probably a bit different these days.
I've had some interesting trips up and down the East coast, and most times it was quicker than taking the bus.....Although never as uick as a bike...lol | |
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| hitch hiker
Posted: 6/5/2008 1:04:30 AM | Im with you Brizguuy..Ive done my fair share of hitching and picked up many hitchikers of both sexes and every one of them has had a genuine reason as to why they were hitching in the first place, travelling, saving money, had a fight with someone...etc...Ive never once feel threatened or frightened...maybe Im lucky but hell you can be standing a in 7/11 shop and be held up, mugged, molested and in broad daylite etc...that is life now...and as my Mom says..whats coming to you won't go around you !!
My last "pickup" was a young bloke on Xmas eve...he didnt need to go that far, but told me he had a bit to drink at his staff Xmas party and trying to get a cab at 10.30pm on Xmas eve nite was near impossible so he stuck his thumb out...and I picked him up
He was very grateful, obliging, polite and thanked me profusely for helping him...me, I was bloody grateful he didnt drive cause I could tell he had had a bit......and thought it most considerate of him to think of that...now if only more people were as responsible...and remember Ivan Milat was the one doing the picking up !! - works both ways !!! | |
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| hitch hiker
Posted: 6/5/2008 1:43:56 AM | Yep on occasion I have and will. Depending on the location and circumstances. I hitched a bit in my younger years, relying on my Spidey-sense a lot.
A few years ago I was driving from Sydney to Lismore. It was a very stormy night and outside Newcastle there was a man hitching in the rain. I didn't see his face only his body language: despondant. I felt like I was his last hope. Impulsively I stopped and picked him up. Six hours later when I dropped him off at his driveway I knew I'd met someone of unique qualities, one of life's true triers against hardship and displacement. I was rewarded in many ways that night for picking up a bedraggled man in the rain not the least that I was able to brave the rainy night drive all the way to make it in time to see the sun rise over Lismore. | |
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| hitch hiker
Posted: 6/5/2008 2:03:30 AM | I picked up strangers 7 nights a week for 13 years when I drove a cab....so picking up a hitch hiker is no problem to me have done it many times and will continue to do it. Hopefully one day if I break down one of the people I helped will stop and give me a lift. | |
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| hitch hiker
Posted: 6/5/2008 2:12:42 AM | I've hitched many places, from Cairns to Sydney once. I was younger and bullet proof then, and now I can afford a car and usually travel with more gear than a back pack.
I don't see many (any?) hitch hikers now. I usually pick them up. Not the obviously suspect ones,( long haired, with tattoos, outside a country jail) .
If I'm driving a fair way, I can use the company and hopefully conversation. | |
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| hitch hiker
Posted: 6/5/2008 2:29:00 AM | You'd probably be safer with the tattooed long hair and outside a jail, Gee if I'm hitch hiking you're not going to pick me up :-( then a clean cut shaven person Think about it how many distinct features can you give a cop about a clean shaven person?  | |
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| hitch hiker
Posted: 6/5/2008 2:34:10 AM | Yeah, picked a few up in my time, never felt threatened. Also hitched part of the way up the west coast.
Best one for me was when i was in Darwin on holiday from the UK. I was traveling with my wife(ex) and i was bombing back from Kakadu. We passed this guy in the middle of nowhere, literally...so anyways by the time i said what was that, i had passed him. Thought about it for 1 nano second and turned around for him. Picked him up and well he gave us this story of his life, he was absolutely plastered, dressed more like a tramp and bit on the nose.... f'n about this and f'n about that. How he was only on the road cause his wagon had meant to be repaired and it had been delayed. How Kakadu has great places that only the locals know about and deliberately kept away from visitors. He said his wife an aboriginal, was working in a local care home/hospital and that she would be waiting for him, and he started off again on his car and how it's a beaut 4WD, the pride of his life. He was hoping it would be ready the next day and how much i'd love his car...blaH BLAH BLAH. So this went on for about an hour and he directed us to this small town and a small hospital and told us to stop on the road outside. We thought yeah he's just waiting to get another lift, theres no wife and no 4WD, thats why he didn't want us to go up the what seemed quite a long drive to the home....So that was that, until 2 days later i'm getting fuel at a service station and on the next pump was this Monstrous 4WD gleaming, truly beaut BIG 4WD, massive bull bars, huge wheels,the works.... with an aboriginal woman in the passenger seat......................
You guessed it, the guy we gave a lift to comes out of the shop looking very cool and very different..he still recognized me and gave us a big wave.........true story......
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| hitch hiker
Posted: 6/5/2008 3:12:32 AM | Was never big on it before, after Wolf Creek I never will be.
There are too many police in my family for me to think it's a good idea. As for the Falconio case, my older Bro arrested the guy. I remember that day, it was completely insane. The Police had road blocks everywhere, the guy was caught in a supermarket car park. Gave him a story to tell (and tell, and tell, and tell) and for me a big 'in your face' reminder there's alot of dangerous people out there. | |
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| hitch hiker
Posted: 6/5/2008 3:23:04 AM |
My last "pickup" was a young bloke on Xmas eve...
Pookie, you're such a tart.......*shakes head*....are you ever NOT picking up men.....
Anyway,back on topic....Ive never hitchhiked in my life,nor,picked up a hitcher.
And,sorry,perhaps? to say,i never will.
Ps.Dont think "Roses" ever answers anyones' questions ............
toodles, | |
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| hitch hiker
Posted: 6/5/2008 3:37:04 AM | Actually , i was under the understanding hitch hiking WAS illegal in australia but..
and a quick search from a GOV site found this:
Some Australian road rules may be different from those in your home country. For example, police actively enforce laws which prohibit driving if you have been drinking alcohol, or if you are talking on a hand-held mobile phone. Driving above the speed limit is also illegal as are both hitchhiking, or picking up hitchhikers in your car.
so theres the nail on the coffin so-to speak!
But we have all done it , in my youth i spent a lot of time walking along the highway for rides , and when i picked people up , i would pick up ONLY the people walking , as in my eyes , these people had places to be , so they were making the effort to get there on foot , even if no-one picked them up.
I found too , when i was hitching , if i stood there , no-one would stop , but if i was walking , i'd be picked up pretty quickly | |
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| hitch hiker
Posted: 6/5/2008 3:44:04 AM | | would I??????? no farking way - i dont care how good looking they are...... | |
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| hitch hiker
Posted: 6/5/2008 4:27:27 AM | | i'd only ever pick up a hitch hiker if i knew them....simply not the risk no matter how small the chances are of being robbed,etc... | |
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| hitch hiker
Posted: 6/5/2008 4:53:31 AM | I think that if I had a mate or two in the car that I would feel comfortable picking up a hitch hiker with, I would probably do so, as long as they were on my way. I've never done it before and from reading some posts it seems to be quite an experience.
What if there were two hitch hikers walking together? Would you think twice about having 2 strangers in your car?? | |
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| hitch hiker
Posted: 6/5/2008 5:19:28 AM | Okay ready for this?????
I have...many times well I was younger I suppose and things where a bit safer...or maybe they weren't and I was just lucky
the 2 big ones I remember were both in my 20s
1. my friend and I both 22 decided to go on a camping trip.....I think she told everyone on earth about this one.... I saw a couple in the middle of deserted country road...I told my friend to stop the people need a hand....so we did they said their car broke down going to the see their child at the hospital and they wanted a lift. I told my friend let's do it she said noway what if this what if that...I said they look honest enough and anyway I added; I’ve brought a big bat with me incase anything goes wrong  so she felt better and yes they were honest and their child was at the hospital.
2. I was at a 7/11 store and there was a guy who had problems getting home and when I came in he asked me to give him a lift to his house...I said no way...he begged and said he was really a police officer and so I told him to show his badge and also his drivers licence to the 7/11 man person and then I got the 7/11 man write his details on a piece of paper and agreed to give him a lift to his house...... then when I was taking him home he took me the river way I asked him was he sure it was the right way?? and he said no just a kiss SO I stopped the car and said well if you keep behaving this way get out of my car now or just behave ....so he behaved and got home
I have picked up few kids past year or so and told them off for getting in stranger’s car...well ...I have to ...after all you never know who's who......
I am retiring though... | |
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| hitch hiker
Posted: 6/5/2008 5:43:31 AM | Living in the country you see alot of hitch hikers wanting to get to the next town or city. I don't pick them up unless I know them as I'm often in the car alone.
I've accepted two lifts that I remember, one when I was about 16 with a girlfriend and the guy was someone we knew by face from our area, and instead of following our directions he took us into the bush, luckily we were pretty plucky and when he stopped we both jumped out and ran away, and finally made it home, too scared to tell our parents what had happened.
The next time was when I was a young mum walking home up the hill with my bags of shopping on a hot day, a lovely elderly lady pulled up, I had never seen her before, but she insisted I get in and let her drive me home. She told me she had had to walk with her groceries many times when she was young and had wanted to save me the walk, she even gave me her number and said to call if I ever needed a lift. I've never forgotten her kindness.
So I guess it just depends on the circumstances!
Cheers, Deepy! | |
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| hitch hiker
Posted: 6/5/2008 5:48:05 AM | have never hitched myself but am from the bush and have picked up a heap of hitchhikers...only ever had one issue.when i picked up a guy he was stoned and sat in the back seat as i had a mate with me...few k's down the road he pulled a knife and held it behind me...unfortunately my mate and i were heading to a pistol shoot at wagga and before he could say pull it over he had a 357 magnum pointted between his eyes from my mate....he left the car before i could even stop...I still have the knife in the cupboard and we dropped his bag about 30 k's down the road, hung it off a roadsign...lol...we got a laugh for ages about how he was that ripped he was an idiot....
cheerz all be safe and be well | |
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| hitch hiker
Posted: 6/5/2008 6:01:42 AM | For sure, circumstances count. I've only ever hitched with friends... and lucky we all got a lift! I've picked up a couple over the years. As someone else has said, if they're walking they are serious. Then there was the time my daughter picked me up from the train and i had a couple of young swedish male backpackers in tow heading for straddie! Just figured I'd do the friendly local thing and take them to the ferry, via the scenic route of a couple of k's. Another time I picked her up from the city on new years... had a few spare seats in the car and pulled up at a cab rank and asked if anyone for our area.... a couple of young girls were happy to, but we drew the line at the drunk guy! (sorry cabbies)
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| hitch hiker
Posted: 6/5/2008 8:24:44 AM | Thank the God of Hitch-hiking, Hipflasks and Hula hoops that my kids are nothing like I was. I was a nightmare teen and god only knows why mine are so sensible... have absolutely no idea how!
I spent years hitching all over the east coast... back and forth between Bris and Cairns, down to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide. I remember sitting in cars and trucks with some great people and also some complete whack jobs. I often went without sleep, afraid to close my eyes. I never felt bullet proof. I had a couple of freaky moments, but the thing I remember the most (and this was before I read any hitchhiking horror stories) was knowing that no-one ever knew where I was, where I was heading or who I was travelling with... Every now and then I'd phone someone or call in on freinds scattered about Aus, but if something had happened, I knew there was very little chance anyone would be able to retrace my travels. I survived, so I don't regret it, but it wasn't smart.
I always stop if there's a car stopped by the road, and I always smile when its a guy and he looks confused when "the blonde has tools????"...lol
I also pick up hitchhikers if I have time for a detour, because chances are its never on your way...lol | |
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