getting to burning man without a car

paz19x · Post by **paz19x** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 2:20 pm

hi everyone. im planning to fly into reno from either new york or philly and i dont have a license. do you have any tips on how i can get to black rock city from the airport without a car? thanks. paz

Ninth Path · Post by **Ninth Path** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 3:12 pm

Hola Paz.

Check out these forums for lots of other posts on the subject. There's even a ride share system on the BM site you can create a log-in for and post that you need a ride from Reno. People have been posting about renting cars in Reno, so maybe try hooking up with one of them and splitting the cost.

Worst comes to worst, you could go to Wal-Mart in Reno and buy all you water and supplies (I'm assuming you're not flying with them) and look for all the decked out RV's, day-glo buses, 5 bikes strapped to the roof of a sedan, people buying tons of water/food/booze, etc. and see if anyone has room.

There are other Reno ride share options in Reno I believe, so browse these forums a lot.

Ninth Path

phil · Post by **phil** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 4:50 pm

Check Green Tortoise:
http://www.greentortoise.com/adventures ... tival.html

We see them there every year, and it looks like a lot of fun for solo campers. In the past they have had a stop in Reno, so email them and see what their plans are for this year.

Free2B · Post by **Free2B** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 4:04 am

Someone just passed this on to me: $70 for the ride. That's all I know so far, see the link & see the website. I was personally a bit confused on buying & emailed them. http://reno.craigslist.org/rid/713425746.html I'm also flying from NY w/no car, so if anything else turns up post it.

poda13 · Post by **poda13** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 1:09 pm

I know you said you are flying to Reno and all, but if you change your mind and want to fly to phoenix I have one spot in my truck. You can buy all supplies in phoenix and stay on my couch if needed.

JezebelinHell · Post by **JezebelinHell** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 5:58 pm

For the record, flying into Reno is weirdly expensive. If you haven't bought your plane tickets yet you may want to check out the price difference if you fly into Phoenix. Back when gas prices weren't so hideous I knew people who would fly into AZ and then drive to Reno just because it was cheaper.

Post by **mdmf007** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 10:27 pm

brctransit.com is another bus line - and they provide your water as well.

Free2B · Post by **Free2B** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 12:09 am

...and they take your trash & unlike the one I found they take you back too, plus they work as a shuttle throughout the week w/round trip tickets. This is great, thank you!

Post by **mdmf007** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 10:49 pm

provide water as well - i didnt see the trash thing.

EB · Post by EB » Thu Jun 12, 2008 10:51 am

Went to brctransit.com for a friend...

I'm a little leery of their web site: Lots of spelling errors, no phone numbers, anonymous email, etc.

For a bus service utilizing a (hopefully) licensed and vetted professional driver, it doesn't seem too much to ask for some bona fides.

I sent them a request for a phone number, so I'll post back. Hopefully, it's a legit as it sounds PERFECT for a lot of incoming burners.

Hopefully.

Update: One of their bus photos is hotlinked to a charter bus company out of Tampa, FL. Spidey senses tingling...

EB · Post by EB » Thu Jun 12, 2008 12:58 pm

Just got a response from my inquiry:

"were just a group of burners trying to help defray the costs of our camp. We have hired a professional bus service to fit this schedule, and are taking a bit of the liability on as we have guaranteed so much volume. So rest assured we arent going to burn anyone. We are all over eplaya, are long time burners and I guarantee you wont be burned.

anyways - you can hit me up at (phone number given.) I have not put a phone number up yet as we are setting up a seperate line so we dont get innundated with calls at home. Website design is new for me, so bear with the site until I can get it up to snuff. We wanted to get the word out while we still had time to get the idea out."

Haven't called the number but I feel MUCH more confident about recommending the service vis-a-vis this reply.

Free2B · Post by **Free2B** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 3:09 pm

They responded to my emails as well. They seem to be updating their site often. I know I read something like "we will take YOUR trash & we mean YOUR trash at the end of the week" but now I can't find it. I emailed them about it, I'll post the response. Earlier I emailed them about charging my camera, their site now states: "Due to requests - a charging station will be available at the water depot with 110 volt, and 12 volt power strips (auto style plug in)" This is great, but till I buy tickets I'll still have the momentary day dreams of hitting "pay" & getting a "ha-hA!" message.

Free2B · Post by **Free2B** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 9:45 pm

They haven't responded yet, but based on the quote bellow found under "Coaches" they take the garbage on playa at any point:

"Garbage - I cannot reiterate enough that the dumpster is for our riders trash. Its painfully obvious if you bring more trash to the dumpster than you could have possibly brought up on the bus. So please dont abuse the dumpster. Gklass, plastic and paper will be recycled here as well. "

P.S. I bought my tickets! So happy, thanks for the info & thanks to those guys!

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 11:04 pm

Not good.

Save yourself headaches...

Radical Self Reliance

Trust me.. BTDT.. not fun at all.

MrMullen · Post by **MrMullen** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 7:59 pm

Toolmaker wrote: Radical Self Reliance

That's what it is all about, man! I have ride shared, given rides and split all kinds of stuff for 4 Burns and my days of doing that are over. There are a handful of Burners I trust that much, but not many. When push comes to shove, your shit will get tossed before theirs or a slight headache of the girlfriend of the owners car means you might not be stopping in Reno. Trust me, handling everything as much as you can your self means a much better experience.

EB · Post by EB » Sun Jun 15, 2008 9:24 am

I disagree.

A bus service like this one - provided it checks out - is a perfectly self-reliant way to get to the playa. Unless a person suddenly sprouts up from the playa in late August, there will always be reliance (radical or otherwise) on others to get there (airline pilots, road workers, Saudi oil shieks.)

Go mass transit! ("You are on the seven train: Nixon - Lovelock - CenterCamp - stand clear of the closing doors, please.")

Marscrumbs · Post by **Marscrumbs** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 2:21 pm

Find a pilot to fly you in all the way to the Black Rock Airport.

Post by **mdmf007** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 8:45 pm

its an option like any other - would a cab be reliant enough?

Free2B · Post by **Free2B** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 9:04 pm

Imagine the cost of a cab, especially with wait time at your stops... And how would you get one back?

Post by **mdmf007** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 7:51 pm

anyone ele buy tickets? I picked up a one way for my mate - Ill already be there. Emailed right back and called me as I requested.

So I had no reservation.

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 8:16 pm

I recommend getting to Burning Man without a car. You should definitely come in a truck!

motskyroonmatick · Post by **motskyroonmatick** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 8:29 pm

Rodger that!

dragonpilot · Post by **dragonpilot** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 3:38 pm

Fly to Seattle...join us in our RV...$450/person includes all the RV amenities, gas. dragonpilot38(at)hotmail(dot)com.

Free2B · Post by **Free2B** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:32 pm

mdmf007 wrote:anyone ele buy tickets? I picked up a one way for my mate - Ill already be there. Emailed right back and called me as I requested.

So I had no reservation.

You're probably a veteran with the amount of posts you have... What do you think of the fact that they only allow 3 & 1/2 hours between the departure time from the playa and arrival at Reno airport? I just got an email from BM about Exodus, 3 hour traffic to get out. I emailed them last night, waiting for the reply, but I'm just not that patient right now:) They say they're "burners" why wouldn't they consider this then?

phil · Post by **phil** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:46 pm

I see that on Monday the First, BRCtransit has six departures from the playa. I'd suggest that you pick a time that gives you comfort that you'll get to the airport in time for your flight instead of relying on their suggested times, if you're not comfortable with their predictions.

I hope this doesn't sound harsh as I mean it in all good intention: rely on your own judgment instead of mine, BRCtransit's or anyone else's. Pick a departure time based on your guess of how long it will take. Seriously, anybody's guess is as good as anybody else's.

Free2B · Post by **Free2B** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 7:42 pm

They changed the arrival times 3 hours back. I'm guessing this had a lot to do with my emails. It's been a wile since I bought the bus ticket, I bought the plain ticket same day! Don't they realize people being dropped off at one of two locations -bus or plain - are probably gonna be on a schedule? They can't change the arrival 3 hours now. Not if they give a crap anyway. They made the mistake with calculating time, they should go bug the coach company to leave the playa 3 hours early instead. Well, worst case scenario, I'll have something to contribute to the theme after all. I'll be on the playa getting contact info from the other victims, sue them for encountered fees with changing tickets & hotels. Yeah, I'm frustrated. I'll post any update, let me know if you're also going through this w/them. I'll probably post separately if they don't take responsibility. Ah, it was too good to be spotless, wasn't it?

zanek · Post by **zanek** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 1:51 pm

I would just hitch a ride with someone from the airport in Reno. I did that 3 years in a row with no problems. Just look for people that look they are going to BM (they are really easy to spot) and ask.

I rented a car from San Fran last year and we picked up a girl hitching to BM at the Reno airport (paying it forward style)

Free2B · Post by **Free2B** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 11:14 am

I would, but besides my large piece of luggage I'd need tons of water & food shopping. The bus I'm using provides all that, not much luggage limit. Plus the garbage & charging my camera, lots of privilages, I'll use them on the way in either way. They're working on a new earlier rout monday, so I'll see.

Post by **mdmf007** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 5:46 pm

Worked out well for us - there were a ton of people from europe on the rus too.

The water was a bit warm for my taste, but easy to deal with. Overall a fun experience.

Any other experiences? i see the website is down, and talking to the people running it, they'll be around next year they said. who knows.