Hitch-hiking

Press, 29 January 1988, Page 16

Hitch-hiking

Sir,—As a car-owning, former hitch-hiker, I wish to voice my support for our nation’s thumbriders. I chose to hitch-hike for social as well as financial reasons, and generally had a quicker and more enjoyable trip than I would have had on a bus. I now return the favour at every opportunity, and have experienced many interesting conversations and friendships as a result. No doubt hitch-hikers are relieved not to be picked up by people expressing such jaundiced views as held by many of your correspondents. A ride with a bigot is far from pleasurable. — Yours, etc., COLIN MISKELLY. January 24, 1988.

Sir, —In spite of negative letters from disgruntled hitchhikers which have appeared in your column recently, we would like to report that in our experience Marlborough was one of the most pleasant areas in which to hitch-hike in the whole country. Last week-end, in a group of four (usually a number considered totally non-viable for hitching), we had no problems getting a lift. Our driver, a local man, was very sociable and went some 3km out of his way to deliver us to our destination. — Yours, etc., MURRAY TONKS, JOSIE McNEE, DOROTHY RODGER, HERB FAMILTON. January 26, 1988.