Is hitchhiking a lift still a thing?

Pauliedragon

Saw a guy today with his thumb out on the footpath in my area. Can't remember the last time I saw that. He was only about 50m from the bus stop. Do many people still do this and would anyone here pick up a hitchhiker?

Wanderer2010

I havent seen it in many years in the bigger cities in Ireland but you would see it the odd time in some of the rural areas or very small towns where in most cases the hitch-hiker is hoping to get a spin off a local or somebody in the area who knows them well, maybe they had car trouble or their plans changed and are looking for some help.

I would never accept a hitch hiker unless I knew them. Letting a stranger into your car is no different from opening the front door of your home and leaving all and sundry in. I usually get shot down for saying that, but Im not taking the risk that some random person turns out to be a drug addict/violent or scumbag who wants you dead. Slightly dramatic and unlikely? Maybe. But im happy being cautious.

Lewis_Benson

Still see it the odd time

Myself and the Mrs were heading down to Doolin in 2016 and picked up a German couple who were looking to get to lisdoonvarna, they ended up coming to doolin with us, as that was their eventual destination.

They were thankful we picked them up.

Strumms

haven’t seen a hitchhiker in an absolute age.

would I pick one up ? No. We live in seriously more unpredictable and violent times than say 20 years ago when it wasn’t an uncommon occurrence especially in rural areas..

LambshankRedemption

The last 3 or 4 times I tried it, it was an absolute disaster. So I dont bother anymore. I live in quite a remote area, the nearest bus stop is 2 miles away. I'd rather spend 30 minutes walking to the bus in the rain, than stand in the rain for an hour or more, in the hope, someone I know might be passing, or someone might be kind enoough. In reality, if I know I need to be somewhere, I ring a neighbour the night before and ask for a lift to the bus.

There may be a number of factors at play here. A single female or a couple, I think would have more success than me, a big male.

briany

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120973661#Comment_120973661

Overall, we probably live in far less violent times than 20 years ago or more. I'd say violence was much more a fact of life back in the days when corporal punishment was still allowed, and there are probably many extremely brutal stories that were swept under the rug in old Ireland. We are, however, much more attuned to incidents of violence, now, due to our near instantaneous access to information, and it's more this which puts violence in the forefront of our minds more than its increase in occurrence.

Public transport infrastructure has gotten a bit better since the 90s. Everyone has a phone to arrange some kind of lift if they need one, or to call assistance if they break down. Alongside the increase in car ownership, it's these things which have really put paid to the practice of hitchhiking. Also, I don't think people are as open to socialising with strangers as they had been in days of old. If you're driving somewhere now, you might just want to be in your own thoughts and have a podcast going, not engaging in awkward conversation with one or more randomers.

AyeGer

I thumbed as we called it a lot back in the 90’s as a teenager and early 20’s. It was rarely difficult to get a lift.

It was quite common then. The only people I see thumbing these days are disheveled looking men in their 40’s or 50’s and the odd foreign couple with backpacks.

I don’t stop for them, I can’t quite put my finger on why because I should be returning the favour I received back in the 90’s. But it just seems to be a different clientele now.

standardg60

https://youtu.be/2AvvTynRi48

You can't be too careful nowadays 😁

I’m thinking of the last time I gave someone a lift, and I was a big guy. But the location was the Scottish island of Islay during a downpour, nearest bus stop a couple of miles away. Had been visiting a remote Celtic cross and church ruins, so had he and was on his way back on the very rough rough, wearing a bright yellow mack, dressed for it.

He gladly accepted the lift, I was stopping off to visit distilleries but offered to take him to main village of Port Ellen, he said thanks but he’d be fine getting the bus whose route started at the Ardbeg distillery.

Turned out he had arrived by his own boat from Maryport in Cumbria, so he was a hardy soul. I think he got a little nervous of me as he was sure to tell me if his wife at home! 🤣🤣

briany

I just remembered that the Moncrieff Show did a piece last year where they sent Henry McKean out thumbing.

Furze99

See the odd person on quiet rural local roads but very occasional now.

As for the longer journeys, I think it was in decline with growth of motorways and Covid killed it off.

TinyMuffin

I’d be afraid this would happen 😋

https://youtu.be/OAfxs0IDeMs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120973927#Comment_120973927

I think that’s why the guy in my car got nervous, I started singing that

🤣

standardg60

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120973927#Comment_120973927

It was a place she knew well so wasn't her first time the durty stopout

cj maxx

I don’t know if it’s a done thing now , but I thumbed home from Galway ( college) and Cork ( work). I had great and scary experiences. Best was getting a lift from Cork to straight to Monaghan . I don’t see many now thumbing . Scariest was one Friday the thirteenth getting a lift in a hearse . It had a coffin but thankfully no body in it . But even I would think twice about giving a stranger a lift now

Akrasia

I gave some French backpackers a lift to lahinch a few weeks ago. They were soaked and it was getting late

I wasn't even going to Lahinch. I just felt sorry for them

nice bit of green

I just don’t think people hitch much these days. They budget for and make themselves available for public/private transport. Driving and car ownership is more common these days, therefore people are more inclined to make their own way rather than hitch.

satguy

Hitchhiking is dead now, drivers are more careful these days, and rightly so.. I'm 60 now and remember hitchhiking was just the way it was.

A guy used to dress up as Batman every Friday and stand at Newlands Cross,, and every week someone always picked him up.

cj maxx

Actually thinking about it more , the last hitchhiker I lifted was a Scottish girl who told me she was on the game and hitchhiking and lorry drivers were her source of income..

Apiarist

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058309138/is-hitchhiking-a-lift-still-a-thing

I always pick up hitchhikers if there is space in the car. However, it is not common in Ireland. In the last 10 years, it only happened twice -- once a couple of runners, one of them sprained her leg and so I brought them back to their car, and another time a trio of German students hiking in Wicklow.

Gregor Samsa

There's a few regulars do it in Ennis. There's a spot just across from the Bishop's house that you'd often see people hitching, in the direction of Lahinch. There's a busker that hitches from the Tulla Road, just after the railway bridge, regularly too.

dublincc2

Yes it’s still going, I gave a lift to a guy from Newbridge to Portlaoise a while back, seen a few around Tipperary and Kilkenny in recent months.

dublincc2

Also a few years back I have a lift to a guy in Keady, he was going to the Castle Leslie estate in Monaghan, big 6’6 muscular guy and I was regretting picking him up when he got in, great guy actually former British Army served in Armagh for many years and was going back exploring the area staying in Monaghan.

CelticRambler

The anecdotes above match the attitudes of my Irish-resident siblings - they'd never pick up a hitchhiker, and wouldn't dream of doing it themselves, let alone encouraging their children to try it. Too much "risk".

On the other hand, it's still "a thing" on the Continent, as I do wonder how many hours those Continentals mentioned above spent trying to get a lift before the posters came along and stopped for them.

Last time I thumbed a lift was a couple of years ago after a breakdown. I was prepared to walk the 20km home, but very pleased that a complete stranger (single white female!) pulled up for me, and drove a couple of km out of her way to drop me at my door. I'll pick up anyone as long as they're standing in a sensible place (which a lot aren't) and depending on how pressed for time I am myself will consider a deviation of a few tens of km to deliver them to a suitable next stop. The number of great stories outweigh the bad ones by ... well, infinity seeing as I'd have to divide by zero.

Having said all that, it's also less common these days on the Continent, as drivers seem to be hooked on their sat-nav times and trajectories (mostly involving motorways) and passengers are more likely to log onto a ride-sharing site so as to have a bit more certainty about when and where they'll be picked up.

dublincc2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120973927#Comment_120973927

How can I get you alone I thought would be a better one

Shocks12

Yes it is. Just brought a man from South Kilkenny into Kilkenny City!!!

Cluedo Monopoly

I hitched all around Ireland in the late 80s. Staying in hostels and just going with the flow. Magical days.

I see the odd hitcher now but Covid put a stop to it for 2 years I think.

Henry James

I saw someone hitching last week in the middle of a town. He was at a bus stop and on the right road to go out of town.

Fr Tod Umptious

Used to do it all the time as a teenager in and out of town on a Saturday afternoon, about 5 miles.

In college used to do it from Galway to Mayo almost every Friday and even a few Monday mornings.

The Headford Rd in Galway was full of people thumbing on a Friday afternoon.

When I was in Dublin I used to get the bus to Maynooth and hitch from there to Mayo or Galway, and like the Headford Rd the road out of Maynooth was full on a Friday.

But the bypass stopped all that.

I tried tumbling in late '94 from Dublin and had to start somewhere around Palmerstown, very different experience than starting in Maynooth.

That was the last time I did it.

I think greater car ownership amoung students killed intercity thumbing.

iniscealtra

Picked up a poor girl in Mayo with a massive backpack. She was going to walk the greenway go Achill but changed her mind. I would have done too with the size of the bag. Dropped her back at the B&B. Have picked up people here and there, not often. Drove past a guy at 6 on a very rural road. It was lashing rain, dark and I had no phone reception. It was winter. He was wearing a jumper and was drenched. I decided not to pick him up. Questioned what the hell was he doing without a coat in the dark at that hour of the morning. I was on my own in the car going to work and that stretch of road has zero phone reception. I still feel a bit guilty about it. Poor fecker or he could have been a bit nuts. I am a smallish woman but I felt bad driving past him but anyone I’ve mentioned it to said I would have been crazy to pick him up.

Only other hitchhiker I see now is a local drinker who wants to save the bus money for pints in the local pub.

mockler007

I think movies about hitchhiking murdering the drivers put a stop to it, kinda like what jaws did for people swimming in the sea

murpho999

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120973661#Comment_120973661

Can you please tell the last time that of a report of person picking up a hitchhiker has been attacked? Personally never heard of it. The vast majority of people are decent and if one was thinking to attack someone then there would be easier ways than hitchhiking.

Also, not buying the idea that times are more unpredictable or violent and despite the media hype about recent incidents in Dublin, Ireland is one of the safest countries in the world, especially when compared to other countries.

Hyperbollix

Years since I saw one and longer since I picked up one.

Was heading to work one morning at 7am and a girl was thumbing in my local village. She was dressed for a night out and had clearly been up all night or had a short kip and was trying to get home the morning after. I pulled in beside her, she said needed to get to a place which was on my way so I said hop in. Then she turns around and shouts, "come on lads" and three young lads hop out from behind the bushes and pile into the back of the car.

Cute hoors. That was the last time I did it.

DownByTheGarden

I used to pick up hitchers all the time, but the last one I picked up was a few years ago. Jesus it took months for the smell to leave the car. Not risking that happening again.

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120975325#Comment_120975325

I don’t know, you need to sit down and understand that not every violent attack makes the news so I’ve no idea why you’d be willing to use the news as a barometer.

Why would you be comparing it to other countries ? Doesn’t enhance your argument.

my own experience personally and from what I’ve seen. I wouldn’t be picking up complete strangers…..

media report vs media hype hmmmmm. Every section of the media is hyping it ? Ok.

I’ve socialised all over this city for many years. My experiences of late, and going back a while and reports in the media leave me to decide that I would not be offering lifts to complete strangers. You are basically very vulnerable driving a car, belted in, concentrating, in traffic , driving an asset worth more then likely several thousand euros or maybe tens of thousands of euros….. so no, a complete stranger won’t be picked up off the road..

friends, neighbours, acquaintances fine, no problem…glad to help… 🙂

yourdeadwright

6 years ago is the last hitch hiker i seen ,A German bloke

I picked him up on the way out of Skibbereen & dropped him at Crookheaven ,

I actually went into O'Sullivan there for a bit of lunch with him ,

murpho999

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120976597#Comment_120976597

I don't know why you're saying I'm using the news as a barometer when all I did was mention current media hype about Dublin.

I'm comparing it to other countries as I disagree with your statement that society is more violent and dangerous than before and as we're both talking about Ireland it's a fair comparison and Ireland's official stats show Ireland to be a very safe country.

Anyhow, I'm not advocating that pick up hitchhikers, as pointed out already,you hardly ever see it nowadays. I'm just saying that if you did do it then 99 out of 100 people you would pick you up would be fine.

Ubbquittious

Saw one today. Didnt pick him up as I was going the wrong direction

Ubbquittious

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120975325#Comment_120975325

I think we are living in less violent times than ever. The media is focusing the absolute feck out of the bit of it that still happens. You see this with other things as well like air quality, hasn't been this good since before the industrial revolution but the media tells you it's a huge problem

NewbridgeIR

The warnings seem to be contradictory

Dangerous for motorists - the hitch-hiker might attack you

Dangerous for hitch-hikers - the motorist might attack you

Which is it?

Anyway, last time I hitched was a few months before Covid. Prior to that, mid-1990s. My car was in for a service but was delayed by a day. I set my alarm to get up early so as to walk to the train station (30 minutes away). I overslept and started to walk in. Then the rain started. Tried hitching for a bit - no joy. Ended up being late for work & was soaked.

Last time I stopped for a hitch-hiker was in 2022. A backpacker. No issues.

Feisar

I picked a lad up outside Clones once and dropped him home to The Congo.

Gregor Samsa

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120976422#Comment_120976422

You're supposed to bury them, not leave them in the car for years!

freshpopcorn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120975159#Comment_120975159

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backpacker_murders

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf_Creek_%28film%29

Ivan Milat has a lot to answer.

In a different Ireland of long ago, RTC students often debated hitchhiking v getting the bus home for the weekend, money was tight and that bus money might be the equlivent of two pints.

Paulownia

I still pick up the odd one, as a guy I prefer the male ones so I can’t be in trouble for being accused of anything, a pal of mine got caught once with a girl who tore her clothing and said he had molested her but the cops knew her because she’d done it many times

Wanderer2010

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120976664#Comment_120976664

You cannot possibly stand over that 99 out of 100 people are decent statement, you literally have plucked that from nowhere. Go out and pick up 100 hitch hikers and then come back to clarify that statement. Its people like yourself who believe the best in everyone who are normally the victims of violent crimes, due to a misjudgement of how all people act compared to a few nice people you have met.

bnt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120975159#Comment_120975159

One movie in particular: The Hitcher (1986) pretty much doomed the old freewheeling hitchhiking spirit. There was even a book called The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to Europe (1971), which was famously parodied by The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

timmyntc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120986973#Comment_120986973

Exactly - the reality is far above 99 out of 100, something like 9999 in 10000 are safe.

Crime stats do not point to picking up hitchhikers as any sort of risk. More likely to crash your car by yourself than pick up a "bad" hitchhiker. Sensationalist media makes people believe that everything is so dangerous and that death is around every corner. Grow up

Wanderer2010

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120990639#Comment_120990639

Only in your head. Its fantastic you go through life thinking everyone is nice and people get on great with each other but thats not the reality. I challenge you to pick up 99 of our diverse mix of a human race and then come back and say they were all grand.

timmyntc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120991012#Comment_120991012

It must be a miserable existence living in fear of other people and thinking 1 in 100 people is some kind of imminent threat to you

TurboTerror

Well aside from the chances of violence or other crimes, my father picked up a hitchhiker many years ago, possibly mid 90s.

He had a minor collision. She took him to the cleaners for personal injuries claim.

That was the end of that.