- April 28, 2024
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Steve DeGarmo created a special display for his "road stuff." Photo by Jacque Estes
Cell phones are frequently found along the road. Photo by Jacque Estes
Debris that has not been added to the collage -- yet. Photo by Jacque Estes
Steve DeGarmo always carries a plastic bag to pick up road and bike path debris. His bike was up on a stand because he ran over a nail. Photo by Jacque Estes
Steve DeGarmo changes the back tire on his 20-year old bike after picking up a nail in the road. DeGarmo is always picking up nails, but usually not with his bike tire. DeGarmo is known for stopping to pick up road debris.
“This whole thing started a year ago,” DeGarmo said. “I would see stuff on the bike path, and in the street, so I thought 'I'll pick up a few things.'”
His “few things” has steadily grown. Recently when he and his wife, Renee, were on their way to Starbucks he saw something on the eastbound lane of Palm Coast Parkway. After parking at the Starbucks and waiting for traffic to pass, he stepped out to pick it up – an 8-inch lock pin from a trailer hitch.
Renee laughs and shakes her head.
“He does all kinds of things,” she said.
DeGarmo isn't just trying to clean up the roadways and paths, he is also trying to protect his fellow man, woman, or child, in cars, on bicycles and pedestrians.
“A car or truck could hit this stuff and flip it up into another car or even someone walking on the sidewalk,” DeGarmo said. “If I could prevent someone from getting hurt, someone from getting a flat tire, why not pick it up?” he said. “It's kinda like a random act of kindness.”
His finds range from money to lots of cell phones, from tow truck hooks and chains to a full-size hammer, and some unidentified objects. If the cell phone can be repaired, he tries to find the owner.
“Sprint has one now, and they are trying to find the owner,” he said.
To get the word out about the danger of road debris, DeGarmo tapped his artistic and builder side, and created a collage. He glues the items he finds onto the large framed board that he built and stained. He hopes to be able to display it around town, possibly the Flagler County Public Library or Palm Coast City Hall. He has already taken it to Starbucks.
The story of where he found each piece, and the research to find out what some of the things are, is all part of his process.
He stresses that he only stops if he isn't going to endanger himself.
“I have my blinking light on my bike, and my helmet, and I wait for traffic to pass,” he said. “I've picked up stuff on 100, A1A, Old Kings Road, and Town Center Boulevard – yes, these things are on Town Center Boulevard.”
DeGarmo is hoping his collage gets the word out about how important it is for contractors and those with trucks and trailers to make sure everything is attached properly, and secured. He also hopes others will bend over to pick up trash when they see it.
“I've tried to put together something to make people understand, if you have the opportunity to prevent something from happening, something negative – let's try to do it” DeGarmo said. “If you are walking along and see something, a broken bottle or something, put it in the garbage. I am just trying to make our community a better place, by removing these things. Each one of us can make it a little better.”
