Today my motorcycle had a fuel problem (leaking petcock vacuum valve). Anyway I called the wife to rescue me and bring tools to fix the bike.

While waiting a pickup truck pulls over to offer help, the driver was a motorcyclist and said he knows what it feels like to be stranded. I thanked him for stopping and told him help was on the way. ~5 minutes later a BMW motorcyclist pulls over and I tell the same.


I've done it in the past when the conditions are safe but this made me think and realize I need to do it more often. Nice to know there's plenty of good folks out there.

 

I do. Most of the time at least. I always think of how I would feel if I were in their position, and I'd want help, so I'd figure they would want it too.

 

I haven't, esp. if the vehicle is stopped on the freeway in a traffic lane.
Most of the time I've passed by stranded cars in safer places, the drivers were outside talking on their cell phones or help had already arrived.

My vehicles are fairly recent and we have AAA, so I don't even carry tools other than screwdrivers and jumper cables with me any more-- no ratchet set, no wrenches, no pliers, no tape...

 

My old Saab died while on the highway, and I pulled off the road. After maybe 10 min when I get out to see what might be going on, a car stops and asks if I need help.

When that happened it renewed my faith in the human race, that there actually are some good people out there. Ever since then, if there is an opportunity where I could do the same, I do. The couple of times I've stopped people have said they were all set, and I went on with my day.

 

No, I don't unless it's a really nice part of the city. Otherwise, the rest of these people are bums & won't do the same.

 

I don't because of safety reasons, especially on the freeway. If you don't have AAA to help, there are city workers that drive up and down freeways and help stranded motorist. Plus, most people these days have cellphones that they can use to call for help, so the days of being completely stranded seem to be over.

 

I do...I just make sure I have my pistol with me.....you never know..

freeways I dont....its best just to call AAA

 

Nope.

I will stop if someone gets in an accident or if someone falls off their bike though.

 

They won't even do that here. Buddy rolled his car down a small ditch, not 1 person stopped in the 15 minutes it took for us to come get him.

 

on 35th and the I90/94 in Chicago, some african american guy, dressed in a suit that is not exactly his size, waves people down for "help" about once every other week...not sure what his scam is.

...and no I don't stop for people no matter what they look like. I will call for help though if it seems someone can use it.

I actually always wanted to stop and be a witness to an accident, but nothing substantial has occurred in front of me...

 

I've done this a few times in the past and will only do it in certain circumstances.

 

Any classic car is a no brainer,...I've been there. I carry "real, 12-gauge" booster cables, some tools, and a multi-meter: a dead battery in winter at the train station is a common experience for commuters here, or at the grocery store, during the winter, and you can't push start most modern MT cars, either. And a couple of times I've rescued some work guys whose trucks wouldn't start, because I just happened to have a spray can of ether left over from my British sports car days...downtime is such a waste.

I have, however, stopped picking up hitchickers...generally.

 

I stopped and got out and helped when I witnessed an accident right in front of me.

but i dont ride, so I probably wouldn't stop for a rider.

 

You've actually picked up hitchhikers more than once?

 

When it was raining, I tried to help a guy that worked in a building near mine. We share the same back parking lot. Turned out his starter cable was burnt. He knew the problem, and had the replacement parts. Told him I'd fix it for him the next day and I did.

After I finished, he offered me to smoke weed... HA!

 

Hell freakin no. If it's a chick who is already in the midst of trying to change a tire I might but otherwise everyone these days has a cellphone.

I have no interest in becoming part of a human centipede thankyouverymuch.

 

Just make sure you don't update your iTunes and you should be fine.

 

Initially I was sort of shamefully thinking "no" because the majority of the time, the times when I would be comfortable helping someone are rare. I would only really help someone if I wasn't in a hurry or on my way somewhere other than home, if it was bright out and there was constant traffic (aka witnesses) around, and if they looked absolutely lost.

I typically don't carry tools in my car anyway - bad, I know.

That said, I can recall two events where I helped someone, both times to help someone push their car off the road. One time, a guy my age had his car break down at a red light and looked like he was having problems pushing it by himself, so I pulled over and helped him out. If he was on the other side of the road, I imagine I would have just kept going.... just being real.

Another time, I was in no hurry at all and just waiting outside my house, admiring the weather when another guy's tranny took a crap right in front of my neighbor's house. I was pretty much obligated at that point, so I went and helped him get his car off the road as well.

 

I wouldnt especially on a fwy. If someone is having trouble in a parking lot then I'll come by, but while driving theres probably a good chance I dont need too. Most people will have a cell phone and someone to call. It definitely is a good thing. But safety issues can pop up once in a while in these situations

 

If she has big tits.

 

Only for women, men ought to be able to take care of themselves, unless its some type of accident, but I stop for women all the time, gotten my fair share of dates/lunches from them as well

 

I have once. It was hard to communicate cause he didn't know English lol but I ended up fixing his car with some $5 parts.

 

, I felt the same way yesterday. It was about the same amount of time when the pickup pulled over, then 5 minutes later a BMW motorcycle pulled over.

I an understand the safety factor that makes people avoid doing it, I stranded on a busy freeway yesterday afternoon. Vehicles are going past at 60-70MPH only ~4' away.

 

i think motorcyclist do it more often then cars ... wen my bike had an issue i had a few bikes pull over to help me out

 

^ i'll only stop for serious accidents, and make sure they are absolutely alright
As i remember when i totaled my first car, and only one person stopped after 5 minutes of standing outside in -40 weather, he let me sit in his truck and warm up and i was very lucky that he did, now that i think about it.
and someone called 911, but didn't stop, so a firetruck showed up and they asked me if i wanted to go to the hospital... like wtf you phone 911 but don't stop to ask me if i'm alright

 

If they're good looking ..

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OF COURSE

 

If I don't risk doing myself harm or put other motorists in jeopardy, always. As a rider, always for motorcyclists. Even for H-D riders, although some have refused my help and told me my help was needed or wanted because I was on a "Jap" bike.






Terry

 

This. Although I haven't come across any for a while now.

 

He's 53, he lived in a very different world than we currently live in.

 

Yea, because people being killed by hitchhikers is a new thing, right? Plus, 53 isn't THAT old and people haven't changed that much, especially evil ones.

 

That's pretty childish of them wtf?

 

Well, here is my story.

I once passed by a very old man stranded on the side of the road. I watched him for a bit and he started walking away from his car. I pulled up and asked if he needed help. He told me his car was out of gas and I instructed him to go back to his vehicle while I drive to a gas station and purchase a can and a gallon of gas.

I picked up the can and gas and proceeded to drive back to the man. We got his car started and I was hesitant to leave him, so I offered to follow him home to make sure he made it. Well....maybe it was due to the 100+ deg weather, but he was acting very strange AND had pooped in his pants. I followed him around the block, I dont know, about 8 times before I realized I needed to call the authorities.

Right after I had called, he pulled into a gas station. He got out to pump gas then appeared to forget what he was doing and got back in to his car. At that point the paramedics and police pulled up. I was talking to a paramedic about him and at that point, the old man sped off, jumping a curb and flattening a sign.

We all caught up and he was taken out of the car and placed in the ambulance. It was a 2 hour, crazy ordeal.

Would I do it again? Probably. I like helping people, because I'd want the same in return..its too bad it never seems to work that way.

 

 

Sounds like they deserved to be broken down then. Always respect fellow riders; they get it bad enough from cars, trucks, etc.

 

Only for motorcyclists.

Cagers have too many back-up plans and options to get "stranded". Spare tire, safe place to stay (inside) if bad weather or heavy traffic, etc.

Motorcyclists are typically in more perilous situations if something happens, thus warranting more help.

 

I always want to help but there is always that thought in back of my mind the stops me from doing it

If there is an accident I will try to help though

 

depends on the situation, obviously if someone's frantically waving for help then yes.

but if i see someone stranded and they're calm about it, i just assume they have help on the way.

I work odd hours so sometimes i'm driving home from work at 1am, and if i see a stranded person, the least i do is call the police to alert them.

 

i never used to but i have helped some people stuck in the snow in the past... the reason was that about 8 yrs ago, I was once caught myself on a patch of ice on a hill and i couldn't get out... a guy came and helped me out.. after we were done, i offered to give him a few bucks for his trouble, but he refused and just said to pass on the favor... so it stuck with me ever since...

there are times when i am going down the highway and i see some ppl stuck on the side of the road... unfort i am either going to fast to safely pull over in time, or i have an appt to get to...

 

You are right that 53 it isn't that old but hitch hiking was pretty common in the 70's and into the 80's. I can't remember the last time I saw some doing it recently.

 

Most aren't, but there are some that think this way. Up until a couple years ago I used to travel quite extensively by motorcycle, taking trips around North America. During that time I've ran into many, many riders. I remember a few years ago I was taking the ferry to Vancouver Island. There were twelve of us, all solitary riders, riding Japanese products. The thirteenth was a H-D rider. We all stood around bullshitting, with the H-D rider making it very clear that his was the "only" bike there, the rest of us "not getting it". Someone pointed out the dripping oil below his primary. He told us to fuck off. When we reached the Island the ferry attendant signaled us to fire up the bikes. Twelve started. One didn't. I asked him if he wanted me to help him. Be begrudgingly accepted. If you were to ask him, I'm sure he remembers this incident much differently.

Again, most are great guys. It's the ones that take the bike, their supposed lifestyle, and image way too seriously.






Terry