[Buckeye McFrog]

Coffee date is the best way to go. No more than a 45 minute commitment, cheap, and easy to depart.

A guy I know who is dipping his toe back into the dating scene, six years after his divorce, is doing this. He makes sure to meet the women at a coffee shop far away from where he lives. He is fearful of any of them turning into stalker-crazies.

Also, don't meet them at Starbucks. They play lousy music, and crank it WAY too loud to have an actual conversation.

[Blue Jays]

Your friend is wise to arrange dates 5-10 miles from home.
That is just reasonable basic safety measure for both genders.