Don’t Be This Guy II
This is the second installment in my “Don’t Be This Person” series, where I highlight situations that leave me scratching my head and wondering, “What were they thinking?”
The first article featured someone who mounted two propane cylinders on the front bumper of their RV. I thought that one would be hard to top.
Then I came across this post.
Someone shared on Facebook that a passing motorist had flagged them down on the highway to let them know something was wrong.
Their bike rack had failed.
They had been dragging their bicycles down the road without realizing it. By the time they stopped, the bikes had been badly damaged.
First, I was thankful another driver took the time to alert them. That probably prevented even more damage and may have prevented an accident.
Then I kept reading.
Instead of loading the damaged bikes into their vehicle or making arrangements to dispose of them properly, they left them on the side of the road.
To make matters worse, they posted a picture of the bikes online as if the whole situation was simply an unfortunate inconvenience.
That’s the part I don’t understand.
Accidents happen.
Bike racks fail.
Equipment breaks.
None of us is immune to mechanical failures.
What we are responsible for is cleaning up after ourselves.
Leaving damaged bicycles along the roadside creates a hazard for others, becomes litter, and leaves someone else to deal with the problem.
One of the things I appreciate most about the RV community is that the overwhelming majority of people are respectful of the places they travel. We talk about leaving campsites better than we found them, picking up trash that isn’t ours, and taking care of the places we enjoy.
That same attitude should apply wherever we travel.
If something breaks, take responsibility for it.
It may not be convenient.
It may not be easy.
But it’s the right thing to do.
The next time you secure bikes, a cargo carrier, or anything else to your RV, take an extra minute to double check everything before pulling onto the highway.
That one minute might save your equipment, prevent an accident, and keep someone else from having to clean up your mess.