Asking another person for anything implies a favor, and there are those who prefer not to be in debt to another person. They see it as a weakness, so they try hard to avoid it. When that person is single, asking for a date might be the last thing they ever want to do. They might end up spending the rest of their life home alone if they do not find a way around their issue, so suggesting an activity that could be mutually agreeable is a good way to get a date without formally asking for one.
It is not always easy to use any one method of getting a date, but those who are reluctant to ask often know the other person at least casually. They might have enough information to be able to find an activity the pair of them would enjoy, so taking the time to research how and where they could do it is just a good investment in their future. They will only need to find a good opportunity to slip it into their conversation, and they could find it gets to their dating goal.
If the other person agrees to meet for the date, picking them up could be seen as an offer of assistance. This keeps it on a friendship level, but it also ensures the person asked will be able to go. Picking them up could be a good time for more casual conversation, and participating in the activity could create a bond between them.
Being single is not easy, but it takes even more hard work to find and capture the attention of a potential partner. Those who are shy or hesitant will have to find ways to compensate for their lack of social smoothness, but their success could appear once they find just the right key.