Do you stop and help others alongside the road?

[Art FJR]

In college I used to hitchhike everywhere every weekend. This of course was years ago when we hadn't invented weirdo's yet. I went between Montgomery VW (WV Tech) and Radford VA (Radford University). I went out rain or shine, regardless of the temperature. I had 1' x 4' pieces of plywood painted white with the cities between the two destinations painted on the signs in black. I had 3 pieces of wood or 6 potential signs. I only needed 4 cities (Charleston, Princeton, Tech (refers to WV and VA Tech) and Radford) and the other piece (2 sides) was covered with computer paper that I could write something on in the event I got off course.

The signs had a ring that bound them together like a book and I could flip whatever sign I wanted to be visible. And I had a scarf tied to them that acted like a shoulder strap. I had a flourscent light to light the signs at night. I always wore the blue button down collar shirt. I always looked at the driver even at night when I couldn't see them. I was especially good at looking cold, wet, tired or hot although I rarely was.

The distances between cities made it impossible to walk any of the segments, but I was sure that people wanted to see me attempt to walk it. In Princeton WV (intersection of I-77 and 460) there was a lighted spot on the road. There were no other lights for maybe 40 miles. So, when a car was coming I would hold out the signs and walk backwards. When there were no cars, I walked back under the light.

Even mom's would pick me up and say things like I normally don't do this, but you looked Ok. I was picked up by the same people a number of times.

It was always a great adventure although it is different now a days. So, I feel I owe alot of people something.

I am a stopper. I have to give back. I even pick up hitchhikers some times. And I have brought them home and fed them and made them sign systems to speed them on their trip. I stop for people who are broken down and offer help even if the only help I give them is a soda and a car behind them to absorb the errant driver that veers off the road. I will ride someone to get gas and back because it takes a few minutes from my life instead of hours for them. I even drive people home when they lock their keys in the car if it isn't easy to open the car without the keys.

I saw a mom out of gas in an awkward place. No cell phone and she was freeking. It was 2 miles from my house. She kept the doors locked and I said I would get gas and be back. I got my gas for the mowers and added a few gallons. She rolled down the window some and said thanks. And she was down the road. I am Ok with that too.

There are so many weirdo's in the world that I want to be involved so that others realize that the world is basically good. People do care.

And I would stop for any motorcycle that needed help even a Harley.

Art

 

[FJReady]

I stopped on the way home tonight. Saw a bike on the side of the road, a guy next to it on his phone. I stopped to ask if he needed help; outta gas. Told him I'd be back in 10 min. Rode home, got the gas jug (fortunately I filled it recently), hopped into the Chevy and headed back to the stranded dude.

Put a couple gallons in the tank and she fired right up. The guy was from a couple towns away, riding a mid 80's Yamaha Maxim, near bald tires, spray bomb paint job, baffles removed from the pipes. But the guy was geniunely grateful and blessed me many times. I think he said a few things in Spanish too- I think they were good things 'cuz he was smiling. He said he couldn't repay me, I told him not to worry, maybe he'd help somebody else out sometime.

Glad to be able to help the guy, glad I was only 4-5 miles from home and my gas can.

 

[dbvolfan]

I try if I see them in time, see that they are in need of assistance and can get over safely, especially if it is a biker (peddle or motor)....was going to work 2 weeks ago, on my FJR and saw a guy stranded on the interstate with a little 250...turns out he was having ignition problems so I went home, got the car/trailer and towed him into Lexington for a repair.

I had someone do the same for me 22 yrs ago when my car broke down in Indianapolis on Easter Sunday while travelling from Chicago to Knoxville so I try to return the favor when possible.

 

[jnor]

If it's someone on a bike I'll slow down and give them a thumbs up to see if they are OK, or need help. It works pretty good they'll let you know if they need help.

I can honestly say I've never stopped for a car.

 

[johnny80s]

I am with Jnor on this one. I always stop for a biker and give them the thumbs up. If I get it back I move on. If not I stay and help. In California we have phones every mile down the freeway so cagers are on their own.

 

[BobbyBlue]

Damn Jwilly..that was you?...I wouldnt of even stole the stupid thing if I'd known it was gonna break down so soon...

Of course I stop....almost always too....just good Karma...what goes around.....

Blessed,

Bobby

 

[HartClimbs]

I almost always stop to help unless I've got the kids in the car. I'll always stop when out riding to help a fellow biker.

I don't like to park on the shoulder with the car (too many asshats drive right into cars on the shoulder - even with the hazards on).

 

[meosborn]

If I can stop safely I try to stop and offer help.
Tom

Ditto. Often, stopping on the side of a freeway is a big no-no. I'll pull off at the next exit and let 911 know if it looks like an emergency. Obviously that depends on the circumstances. I've never been so worried about being late that I won't stop to help/call if needed.

 

[Braenen]

A few years ago the family took a trip along the backroads of south Georgia in the summer. The weather was hotter than hell and there were huge banks of black clouds dotting a blue sky. Suddenly the car seemed to be under water... the sky had opened up in a downpour that was unbelievable. The windshield wipers had no chance of keeping up with the deluge. We slowed down fairly quickly but had to really slam on the breaks because just ahead of us a car headed in the opposite direction crossed the centerline of the road, hit two other cars and came to a rest in the ditch facing the wrong way. I jumped out and ran up to the cars, assessed injuries (fortunately nothing serious). Another driver called 911 and got the fire trucks rolling. The two of us helped direct traffic and we stayed with the drivers until the emergency crews arrived. I gave the supervisor a quick summary of known injuries I was back on the road. To this day I think it is odd that only two of us lent a hand.

I have given rides to elderly pedestrians. I have stopped to help someone push their car off the road. I dont make a habit of it though. I will stop if it looks like I can make a difference and it doesnt look like a setup.

 

[RoadGlide]

I try to stop whenever I can safely if others have not already done so. Last year on the I-10 Expressway here in town a Harley rider with no helmet slammed into the rear of a stop SUV at 70 mph. Bad scene as I could only assist the SUV driver who freaked...the rider was DOA at the hospital. We saw several accidents on the way NAFO but other drivers had already stopped to assist. I think we all have a responsibility to help others when we can.

 

[Rob]

Warning: The following message is a rant. But a rant that will hopefully spark others to stop and think?
Of the hundreds of vehicles passing by within minutes only one lady stopped to try to help him. She helped him gather a few of his things and more importantly gave him a hug and said "I'm glad you weren't injured any worse, your going to be fine".

I drive for a living. When I am working I don't stop. Yesterday I drove 730 miles and today 812 I can not count the number of flats tires and broke down or just stopped for what ever reason vehicles I saw. The pure expense and time in stopping would put me out of business. In my POV or Bike I do stop.

My question is did your buddy get her number?

 

[LAGO RUNNER]

I stop and help as often as I can. but what gets me is people who stop in unsafe places to change a tire. F*** the rim. I was riding my old concors years ago when I happend about a guy in a suit trying to change a tire on his Lexus , in the travel lane, after a curve of a major highway. It was dusk and I almost hit him. I Stopped about 20 yards ahead of him and helped him. Luckely Highway patrol closed the lane before the curve after a couple of close calls. I always tell my wife if she ever gets a flat on the highway, drive it off to the feeder road and even better a parkinglot before changing the tire. A rim is alot cheaper then your life

 

[FJRBluesman]

Especially bikers I'll stop when it's safe or it looks they maybe in some sort of trouble.

Quick example of help I got, and when I stopped to help.

I had a chain (master link went bye-bye) come off and I heard my Honda XL600 rev quickly while on the freeway in the carpool lane going south on the 405. I new exactly I lost the chain and I prepared myself for pain if the chain hit me in the leg, and or the thing bunched up at the motor and destroyed my engine case. Neither happened thank God.

Long story short, two CHP passed me up while I waited on the carpool lane shoulder, no help. A cage pulled over, picked me up and drove me to my front door. They would not take money nothing. I thanked them profusely. I decided I need to do the same for others.

A couple months back on the way to work, I came upon a Honda Sporty bike on the shoulder of the north bound 405, I quickly and safely pulled off and hit the skids hard. Asked if I could help, he had a rear flat. He declined and had a cell and I offered to ride him off the freeway to a safer place. He declined again and wanted to wait for a ride or maybe push his bike off the freeway, he was very close to the off ramp, although I warned him there was no should on the off ramp and that would be rather dangerous for him with all the sleepy drivers on the rode at 6:30am. He decided to wait with the bike and I took off. I felt good that I offered help and I would hope others would do the same for me if needed again.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

[OldBoy123]

I stop and help as often as I can. but what gets me is people who stop in unsafe places to change a tire. F*** the rim. I was riding my old concors years ago when I happend about a guy in a suit trying to change a tire on his Lexus , in the travel lane, after a curve of a major highway. It was dusk and I almost hit him. I Stopped about 20 yards ahead of him and helped him. Luckely Highway patrol closed the lane before the curve after a couple of close calls. I always tell my wife if she ever gets a flat on the highway, drive it off to the feeder road and even better a parkinglot before changing the tire. A rim is alot cheaper then your life

Im with you on that!

You know to this day I feel bad I did not stop to tell a family that was standing in the cold on the side of a mountain off I-5

I seen them and would let state troopers know. They where lost in the mountains. Very Lucky I was looking off the side of the freeway onto side of the mountain; as I was going around a turn in the freeway and my Hi beams were on at the time. 1 in a million.

As for stoping? Driving my truck/with children? Unless I know them I normaly don't. But will contact 911.

If there on a motorcycle. And im on mine I might slow down to see if I could help a fellow biker.

Then make a judgement to stop.

Oh if they are a DUMASS. I might honk as I drive by.

 

[vabrzn]

I stop unless several people have already and it appears things are being taken care of.

 

[daviddowns2000]

Thursday night we were driving home from dinner and passing through a residential neighborhood. It was quite dark but I caught a glimpse of what I thought was a person flailing around on the grass between the road and the sidewalk. My first thought was that someone was having a seizure. I stopped the car and backed up to see a man lying on the ground, sort of wrestling with a large dog. We asked if he was alright and he said that he was, the dog had gotten away and he was just getting the leash on it. He said he didn't need help and we left. Made me think about the risks one takes when helping someone who might be in trouble (getting mugged, getting sued, getting hurt, catching AIDS from exposure to someone's blood or saliva, etc.) and what a sad commentary it is that I would even think about those things...