I realise these are tricky times for riding in a car with someone unknown, but even before lockdowns became fashionable over a year ago, I was aware of less people standing by the side of the road thumbing a lift.

Why is this? Is it considered too risky because there are more wierdos out there? Are people nowadays more affluent so they can afford their own transport? Or is it simply that this particular form of getting from A to B is not thought to be fun anymore?

I enjoyed my hitchhiking days during the 60s mostly, but even in the early 80s, after I was married, I hitched to a couple of F1 races in Holland. I did this even though I had my own car and enjoy driving, just for the fun of it. Met some interesting folk in some nice cars and went to some great places. My furthest trip was to the South of France.

I'm sure many of you have stories to tell of hitchhiking exploits. It would be good to read about them.

Dad and I watched games standing on the muddy slope of the Holmesdale Road end. He cheered and I rattled.

Firstly, weirdos like you say. Secondly, people who will accuse you of something if you do it. Then try suing you. That's why I hear no one picks them up anymore. It still exists somewhat in countryside Ireland, where there is basically no public transport. Probably best only with two of you in the car, or two people hitchhiking, for safety in numbers, or witnesses. Unfortunate part of life these days.

I picked up a gang of lads going home from work, they left dirt all over my car and barely said thanks. That put me off. The next time I did it, the bloke started going on about his drug taking and time in prison. My son was with me who was about ten at the time.

Red and Blue Army!

In the 80s and early 90s I used to hitch to gigs all over the UK as I had no cash to get trains, coaches, etc. Generally most folk who picked me up were nice and wanted a chat.
On one occasion I hitched to Coventry to see Palace. Spent 30 mins in the pouring rain with my sign that said Coventry. Not a sniff of a lift. Then I scrawled “for the Palace match” under and within 5 mins 2 Palace fans stopped and took me all the way to the game.

Or Rutger Hauer. The Hitcher would put most people off the idea. Off eating chips for a while too.

Hitched many times without issue. One time however I was hitching home after working late, no money for the bus. I lived in a town outside of Bristol. I was walking through Southmead with my thumb out when a car pulled up beside me. I opened the passenger door to be greeted by a hysterically screeching old lady driver.
I told her I thought she was picking me up, to which see replied she was parking, and would call the police if I did shut the door and go away!

I did pick up a guy, when I was driving a truck for a living ( that sounds wrong!). I picked him up at the M5 junction just outside Bristol. It was very early morning, and I told him I was going to Bradford. He got in and feel asleep. When I reached Nottingham, before the M42 was built and you had to go cross-country, he woke up and asked where we were. I told him Nottingham. He was a bit shocked and told be he only wanted to go to Worcester!
Dropped him off, he probably had further to go than when I picked him up.

Or the guy who invented 7 second abs