To have a little less faith in humanity, try to hitchhike

[GagHalfrunt]

In the last few years I have given rides to a couple of motorists in distress, but there's no way I'd pick up a hitchhiker these days. Last time was probably in the 90s, just too much risk and too little reward. Buy a car or take a bus. If you're standing on the side of the road planning to freeload you don't deserve any sympathy.

 

[Rakehellion]

When I was 17 and in college, on two separate occasions I got rides from people who turned out to be gay dudes trying to bang me. Now I'm convinced it's the motorists who are the creepy rapists.

 

[Ns1]

When I was 17 and in college, on two separate occasions I got rides from people who turned out to be gay dudes trying to bang me. Now I'm convinced it's the motorists who are the creepy rapists.

they assumed you lived by the book of the road.

 

[JM Aggie08]

they assumed you lived by the book of the road.

Is that available in paperback?

Or bareback...D:

 

[Rakehellion]

they assumed you lived by the book of the road.

They should have asked for gas or grass.

 

[Jumpem]

Do you not watch Criminal Minds?

 

[Griffinhart]

Hitchhiking is no more dangerous today than yesterday. People are just more distrustful. It's the same way with violent crime against children. It happens less today than it did 50 years ago, yet most think it's worse today.

 

[Denly]

If I am driving a dirty work truck sure I'd pick up a hitchhiker, but with my own car that is less likely. Not because of trust but the clean up that may need after.

 

[SMOGZINN]

Hitchhiking is no more dangerous today than yesterday. People are just more distrustful. It's the same way with violent crime against children. It happens less today than it did 50 years ago, yet most think it's worse today.

I'm not certain of that. In the last 50 years our mental health programs have all but collapsed. Now severely mentally unstable people are put back on the street, with no way to maintain their medications, within a few days of being stabilized.

 

[TheGardener]

Back in 1970 my college roommate was transferring to another school and returned home. So after exams and the start of Christmas vacation, my friends wanted to hitch up to Montreal to visit him. We'd get a ride back in two days, as his mom would take us back along with my roommate, who would pick up his belongings.

So three of us get on the Mass Turnpike in Boston to thumb across the state to NY. It's about a two to three hour drive. We got a ride from a middle age mom, who was kind of hot. We were very lucky, because she took us all the way to the interstate in NY where we need more rides to bring us to Plattsburgh. I was only 17 and I my friends were 18. I had thought that she was a bit naive to pick us up. Maybe I thought we looked more dangerous than we did. I asked her about it. She said we reminded her of her son, and she hoped that someone would give him a ride if he needed it. Long story short, we made it up to Plattsburgh that night.

So I remembered what she said, and I thought it would be good karma to give others a ride, when I had my car. A year later, I see a guy hitching on a road in my town. I didn't know him per say, but I knew that he was a disabled vet. So gave him a lift. He immediately starts a rant about Jews and blacks. The ride lasted two minutes but it seemed like twenty. I saw him dozens of times hitching on that same stretch of road, but I would never pick him up again. I also became more selective about giving rides, to the point that I finally decided it ain't worth it.

 

[spacejamz]

Hitchhiking is no more dangerous today than yesterday. People are just more distrustful. It's the same way with violent crime against children. It happens less today than it did 50 years ago, yet most think it's worse today.

So you would be okay with your wife or daughter hitching a ride today from a complete stranger?

 

[Gooberlx2]

We picked up a hitchhiker once in rural Wyoming. Guy's car broke down and it was so cold he ran real risk of dying to exposure. We got him to the next town and all was well. So I guess he wasn't a hobo hitchhiker, but a distressed motorist. He did fucking stink though.

I also pick up people hitching to the top of a mountain pass for backcountry skiing, but that's pretty common.

 

[smackababy]

Isn't hitchhiking illegal in most places these days?

 

[lxskllr]

Isn't hitchhiking illegal in most places these days?

I don't know why it would be aside from controlled access highways. I'm pretty sure criminalizing it would be a Constitutional violation.

 

[ImpulsE69]

It is not federally 'illegal' in the US, but prohibited in some manner in most states. Although it isn't about picking up a hitchhiker but rather the person asking for the ride. Considering everyone has cell phones taped to their ears, these days you could at least call the Sherrif and tell them someone is stranded on the side of the road.

Alabama
People are prohibited from standing in the roadway to solicit a ride.

Alaska
Hitchhiking may be legal.

Arizona
Pedestrians are supposed to walk on sidewalks if available, not along the roadway. If there are no sidewalks, they have to walk facing towards oncoming traffic, and are prohibited from standing in the roadway to solicit a ride.

Arkansas
It is illegal to hitchhike in Arkansas.

California
People are prohibited from standing in the roadway to solicit a ride.

Colorado
Colorado has a complex system of rules regarding pedestrians on or near a roadway. Essentially, they are required to walk as far from the road as possible if there is no sidewalk, or on the sidewalk if there is. They cannot solicit rides on state roads, and local municipalities can pass their own laws regarding hitchhiking on local roads. If someone does stop to pick up a pedestrian, they have to pull as far off the road as possible so as not to impede other traffic.

Connecticut
Soliciting a ride from anyone other than a cab or bus while in the road is an infraction punishable by a $35 fine except in the case of an accident or emergency. However, soliciting a ride from the shoulder is acceptable.

Delaware
One cannot solicit a ride or employment or money while standing in the roadway.

Florida
One cannot solicit a ride or employment or money while standing in the roadway.

Georgia
One cannot solicit a ride while standing in the roadway.

Hawaii
One cannot solicit rides from the roadway.

Idaho
One cannot stand on a highway to solicit a ride.

Illinois
One cannot solicit rides from the roadway.

Indiana
One cannot solicit rides from the roadway unless there is an emergency.

Iowa
One cannot solicit rides from the roadway, but they are allowed to do so if not standing in the road.

Kansas
One cannot solicit rides from the roadway.

Kentucky
One cannot solicit rides from the roadway.

Louisiana
One cannot solicit rides from the roadway.

Maine
Hitchhiking is forbidden

Maryland
One cannot solicit rides from the roadway.

Massachusetts
One who solicits a ride on the public roadway can be fined $50

Michigan
Generally pedestrians cannot interfere with traffic flow, but there is no express prohibition against hitchhiking at a state level.

Minnesota
One cannot solicit rides from the roadway.

Mississippi
One cannot solicit rides from the roadway.

Missouri
As long as the hitchhiker does not impede the flow of traffic or interfere with the traffic it is permitted.

Montana
One cannot solicit rides, employment, or money from the roadway.

Nebraska
One cannot stand in a roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride, employment, contributions, or business from the occupant of any vehicle.

Nevada
A person shall not stand in a highway to solicit a ride or any business from the driver or any occupant of a vehickle.

New Hampshire
One cannot solicit rides from the roadway.

New Jersey
One cannot solicit rides from the roadway.

New Mexico
One cannot solicit rides from the roadway.

New York
One cannot solicit rides from the roadway.

North Carolina
One cannot solicit rides from the roadway.

North Dakota
One cannot solicit rides from the roadway.

Ohio
One cannot solicit rides from the roadway.

Oklahoma
Oklahoma only prohibits hitchhiking on turnpikes.

Oregon
Prohibits hitchhiking.

Pennsylvania
Hitchhiking prohibited.

Rhode Island
One cannot solicit rides from the roadway.

South Carolina
One cannot solicit rides from the roadway.

South Dakota
Likely permitted.

Tennessee
Hitchhiking prohibited.

Texas
One cannot solicit rides from the roadway.

Utah
One cannot solicit rides from the roadway.

Vermont
One cannot solicit rides from the roadway.

Virginia
Pedestrians shall not stand or stop in any roadway for the purpose of soliciting rides.

Washington
Hitchhiking prohibited.

West Virginia
One cannot solicit rides from the roadway.

Wisconsin
One cannot solicit rides from the roadway.

Wyoming
One cannot solicit rides from the roadway.

 

[MongGrel]

I've never even tried hitchhiking myself.

I imagine I probably never will.

I guess in FL can't even look for a job, there goes that option

 

[lxskllr]

It is not federally 'illegal' in the US, but prohibited in some manner in most states. Although it isn't about picking up a hitchhiker but rather the person asking for the ride. Considering everyone has cell phones taped to their ears, these days you could at least call the Sherrif and tell them someone is stranded on the side of the road.

...

That's a bunch of crap. AFAIC, it's a violation of freedom of association.

 

[Griffinhart]

I'm not certain of that. In the last 50 years our mental health programs have all but collapsed. Now severely mentally unstable people are put back on the street, with no way to maintain their medications, within a few days of being stabilized.

it's true. Crime statistics bare it out. It's just that in the era of the 24 hour news cycle, we hear about incidents much more frequently.

 

[Rakehellion]

If I am driving a dirty work truck sure I'd pick up a hitchhiker, but with my own car that is less likely. Not because of trust but the clean up that may need after.

After you hack them to pieces and stuff them in the trunk?

 

[BoberFett]

That's a bunch of crap. AFAIC, it's a violation of freedom of association.

Welcome to the US. We have a shit-ton of laws to protect people from themselves. Enjoy your stay.

 

[smackababy]

That's a bunch of crap. AFAIC, it's a violation of freedom of association.

It is similar to laws about pan handling.

 

[CZroe]

The problem is that most people have somewhere to be and a time to be there and it doesn't make sense to leave any earlier than they have to. If it's raining and I'm on my way back home with no one waiting on me I might pick up a pitiful wet vict-I mean "hitchhiker." Yeah.

 

[cavemanmoron]

To have a little less faith in humanity, try to hitchhike We've become a pretty selfish society, from a random sample size of dozens.

(Referring to male hitchhiker, not a Playmate Bunny).

It has been about 30 years since I stopped for a hitchhiker.

Hitch hiking is illegal in many many places.

http://www.hitchhiker.50megs.com/custom.html

Most common Law I saw reading thru the linked page was;
New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law:

TextSection 1157. Pedestrians soliciting rides, or business.

(a) No person shall stand in a roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride, or to solicit from or sell to an occupant of any vehicle.


NYSP - Traffic Services Unit

 

[SparkyJJO]

It is similar to laws about pan handling.

How am I supposed to cook my dinner then

 

[ImpulsE69]

How am I supposed to cook my dinner then

Real men eat their food raw. Salmonella and e coli be damned.