For many people, buslife and vanlife seem like a dream come true, but it actually comes with a lot of travel responsibility. Traveling to new places and meeting new people in a converted bus or van can be thrilling. However, in order to support this nomadic lifestyle, all travelers must operate with a code of ethics.
Too often, we see wild spaces we love being shut down because of the negative impact vanlife and buslife travelers have on the environment and local communities. We need to work together to respect the areas we are visiting. But how do we do that? The first step is knowledge!
There are three areas to work from when making your own code for ethical travel—people, places, and natural spaces. Today, we are going to discuss what you can do to be a traveler with ethics!
How to Respect People While Traveling
Meeting new people and exploring local cultures is one of the best parts of vanlife and buslife, but you also want to be a good visitor to the people you meet. While traveling, there are certain considerations that can help you to be a seasoned traveler and friend as opposed to a nuisance and stranger.
Ethical Travelers Respect People By:
- Being polite to locals
- Knowing local laws
- Remembering that these places are homes, not just tourist attractions
- Avoiding making a lot of noise
- Minimizing your overall presence
How to Respect Places While Traveling
Out on the road, you will visit places that change your life. It can be exciting, but it is always important to remember that these places are worthy of respect and should be the same or better than when you arrived.
Ethical Travelers Respect Places By:
- Knowing where and when to park
- Knowing local etiquette and expectations
- Never leaving behind trash or debris (or even better, clean up and leave campsites better than you found them!)
- Following local traffic laws on the road
- Only visiting locations where you’re allowed to be
- Thoroughly planning your trips. Know what to expect, what gear you need, and what skill level it will require. Not planning properly can put you at risk of needing emergency services which puts pressure on the place you are visiting.
How to Respect Natural Spaces While Traveling
Time spent out on the road is often time spent out in nature. We spend nearly all our time camping and recreating on our public lands. We’d bet that if you live buslife or vanlife, you do too! This means you must know how to navigate the lands and any animals or other visitors. The Leave No Trace Principles allow anyone to interact with natural spaces responsibly.
Ethical Travelers Respect Nature By:
- Planning trips in advance and preparing for unexpected situations with the right gear
- Using existing and legal campsites to minimize their impact
- Having clear plans and solutions to manage human waste (i.e. a compost toilet, porta potty, or the cat hole method)
- Appreciating nature without disrupting it by minimizing your physical impact on each area. Avoid taking souvenirs, which can damage natural spaces
- Drive only on existing roads
- Being responsible with fires, avoiding using them during periods of high risk, and always guaranteeing that fires are out before leaving the campsite
- Supporting wildlife by avoiding confrontations and keeping a safe distance, as well as using appropriate tools and containers to stop wildlife from accessing anything they shouldn’t
- Treating everyone else in these natural spaces, as well as those who may come after you, with respect and courtesy at all times
vanlife Ethical Travel Should Be a Main Focus Everywhere You Go!
Whether you are embracing vanlife or buslife, life on the road comes with expectations. Everywhere we go, we do our best to operate with a strict code of ethics. We do this so our presence elevates the people and places we visit rather than making them wish we would leave. By practicing Leave No Trace principles and being a polite and courteous traveler, you can enjoy the experience in a way that minimizes impact and shows the appropriate level of respect!
To follow along with our journey or to access resources on how to embrace buslife for yourself, visit us at the Our Way to Roam Youtube Channel!