I did it a few times when I was younger. I never felt threatened, and met some interesting individuals along the way. I rarely see anyone trying to 'catch a ride' anymore. Is this concept completely dead?

I also used to thumb rides. It was THE mode of transportation my 4 years at UW
Madison and I also thumbed through europe. This was however, back in the late 60's. I would never do it now nor would I pick up any hitchhikers. The times they have changed and I don't think its safe anymore.

My first recollection of hitchhiking is when I was perhaps 5 or 6 (mid-1960's). My family was driving along in our hometown of Raleigh NC and we picked up a young soldier. We invited him in for dinner as his bus back to base did not leave for several hours, and afterward my dad drove him to the bus station.

The last time I picked up a hitchhiker was last Fall. The woman was obviously down on her luck a little, and I could only take her about 5 miles, but at least that got her onto the highway she needed.

A friend and I hitchhiked from Myrtle Beach to Charlotte in the early 1980-s after my car died. That was a memorable night. We got a series of rides, the most interesting of which was a family with a 9 or 10 year old boy in the back seat with us. One of the parents handed me a joint, and when I her questioned her about it, she said to pass it back to Stevie--their young son. By the way, my friend and I were pretty scruffy looking, so the folks who gave us a ride must have been pretty brave.

I have felt uncomfortable with a few of the hitchhikers I've picked up over the years. (Admittedly, I haven't picked up that many people.) But I wonder whether hitchhiking is truly more dangerous than it was, or whether we are simply less trusting and more sensatized to bad news. I would feel more comfortable if I knew the answer to that question.

I think its more that people don't have the inclination to go out of their way for others - everyone's in such a hurry and in their own little world. The feelings of mistrust stem from this more than any specific incidents I think.

I think the lack of road bound nomads in need of a lift stems from the lower liklihood that we, as a society, have today for giving them the lift they seek. So says the Doctor!

When I was a kid in SF in the early 70's, I hitched around the city and lived to tell the tale.Not so now!
My son visited Scotland, and there everyone gets rides, especially from the mail person.
I like the idea that there are still places where it is safe to ask for a ride.

I had your same experience Lou but I just don't think it is safe anywhere and I have hitch hiked in Turkey, Ireland, Switzerland and the Jersey Shore.

The people that continue to hitchhike are most likely the same people that are having unprotected sex, smoking cigarettes, roasting in the sun for a tan, yadah yadah yadah.

I, too, hitchhiked in my college days, in the US and Europe, always with someone, as I am female. I had a few close brushes, and am amazed at what I did as a young adult.

I stopped picking up hitchhikers, finally, when it seemed the only people I picked up smelled like cigarette smoke and offered me a joint. I couldn't wait to get them out of my car.

I think books like, "In Cold Blood," influenced a lot of people to view hitchhikers as dangerous (as indeed they were in that nonfiction book).

But, more than that, I think many more young people have cars now or have access to rides, increasing the proportion of the unsavory in the hitchhiking pool.

I hitchhiked from Oregon to NY in the summer of 69 for Woodstock, Even then, there were some "strange" people on the road. Today, it would be crazy to pick up a hitchhiker...AHHHHHHHHH those were the days!!

OhForTheGoodOld I had my last scarey experience in Ireland where I recall seeing pregnant women hitch hiking. I hardly think it is that much safer in Scotland.

Everyone still hitches all over the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, where violent crime is non-existent. Your biggest risk while waiting for a ride is getting run off the road by an overweight and out-of-control tourist on a moped who doesn't know how to ride a bike but can rent a moped--no problem!

In Scotland my son was on an island and he hitched with someone else and the mailman gave them rides.
Maybe since the islands are pretty remote and the people all know each other, it is considered to be safer.

I think it is considered safe in Ireland but I was warned not to do it even though it seemed like many people did it. I was a single women traveling alone, so of course I was more vulnerable.

I did have a great time before I had problems. I met one man who was in his 60's who was from Australia. His mother had been sent to Australia because her Irish family could not afford to feed her back in the 20-30's I am guessing. They kept some of her siblings but chose for her to leave which just broke her heart. This man her son who was driving me had become a doctor and was returning to the town of his mother's family for the very first time. They had been peasants he was a doctor! It was very moving the way he told me the story, never ever forgot that experience.

When was I going to meet someone like that on a 10 day back packing tour?

My husband and I were waiting for the bus on Nantucket to take us to one of the further beaches. As soon as we got to the bus stop a local in a station wagon pulled over and offered to take us to the beach. Growing up in Jersey (with a jewish mother-no further comments nec!) of course I have never hitched before that day. Since then, me and hubby will ocassionaly pick up a standed beach goer. Only on Nantucket!

Summer camp counselors always have, and probably always will, hitchhike. I did it in the Poconos and Berkshires during the summers of '88 and '89, and had a great time. The only ride I had that I considered weird was the one woman who told me her sister had been killed by a hitchhiker.

I've also hitched in Ireland, also without any problems.