So I'm gonna need a bike...

[wynturmute]

I don't have the means to transport one to the playa and I was wondering if they are available on sight?

[Captain Goddammit]

I'm not saying this to be snarky but to make sure you learn what you need to know...
Read ALL the info on the Burning Man website. Basically, toilets are provided, coffee and ice are available, and nothing else.

[EB]

[ibdave]

I don't have the means to transport one to the playa and I was wondering if they are available on sight?

http://www.playazon.com/home.html

I know... I Know..

[mk-ultra]

^ sage advice above

Seriously: read through *every* page here, several times:

http://burningman.com/preparation/event ... index.html

Section on bikes:

http://burningman.com/preparation/event ... bikes.html

If it isn't ice or coffee, you won't be able to get it at BM (unless someone nice gifts something to you).

I don't know if they're doing the "yellow bike" thing again this year. These were designated bikes you could use to go from point-to-point (if you could find one)... but the second you're off of it, it's up for grabs for anyone else to use. I wouldn't count on these being available.

A $99 "cruiser" from Target or Wal-Mart is a fair bet if you want to buy a new, cheap bike. Decorate it... and bring a pump, spare tube and a fix-it-kit and you're golden. Oh... and put a light on the thing so you don't get slammed into out on the dark, dark playa at night.

[TomServo]

not sure, where they can be picked up, but the green bikes should be out there again.

or yellow...

but there are community bikes

[wynturmute]

Thanks everyone!

[Toolmaker]

Any bike thats not locked is up for grabs.

[steveboy]

Last year I was really depressed and annoyed to see how many of the community bikes were taken by people, decorated and/or painted, and locked up. Whenever me and my friend saw one, we would steal it back, break the lock, do what we had to do to get it back to DWP on site. We even walked one across BRC on its rear wheel. We took them in front of the people who had painted and locked them and stared them down when they looked as if they were going to say anything.

People can be such serious assholes.

[EspressoDude]

Any bike thats not locked is up for grabs.

So does that mean it's OK to grab yours immediately after you step off and before you snap the lock on it....



I think that is not a valid statement

[mk-ultra]

BM policy is, "no bike is considered stolen unless a lock was cut off... and no bike is considered lost until the end of the event."

That may be BM policy, but if someone "borrowed" my bike without asking... I'd feel free to "borrow" a pint of blood from them without asking when I catch them riding it... along with all my "borrowed" decorations and electronics.

The easiest way to avoid these "misunderstandings" is to put a lock on your bike any time you're not on it. I'm sure there are a few people who really get the whole idea of simply, "borrowing" something... but there are too many jerkwads out there who think "borrowing" means taking the bike for a week, then hauling it out and selling it on Craigslist after the event to make this policy a realistic one.

[gyre]

Take a bike if you can.
If you want to use the green bikes, take a 14" set of boltcutters or a portable dremel (but learn how to use it).

And lock your bike.

I actually met people hiding them at the cafe because "we're about to use it again".
I do think it's reasonable to lock one out in the far playa so you can go back.
Otherwise...

[Captain Goddammit]

BM policy is, "no bike is considered stolen unless a lock was cut off... and no bike is considered lost until the end of the event."

That may be BM policy, but if someone "borrowed" my bike without asking... I'd feel free to "borrow" a pint of blood from them without asking when I catch them riding it... along with all my "borrowed" decorations and electronics.

I agree with this 100%. Stealing is stealing, whether you're at Burning Man or not. Assholes who rip off other people's bikes need their asses kicked.

[gyre]

I wouldn't be discouraged from prosecuting a thief, regardless of any policy.

[MrMullen]

I don't have the means to transport one to the playa and I was wondering if they are available on sight?

Yes, they are available on sight, but that is called stealing!

On a serious note, there are some guys who sell bikes in Gerlach, but I would not bet on it since it is the last stop into Burningman. You should come prepared and getting a cheap used bike is easy.

[Toolmaker]

Any bike thats not locked is up for grabs.

So does that mean it's OK to grab yours immediately after you step off and before you snap the lock on it....



I think that is not a valid statement

I never locked up the yellow bike I used unlike others, I did lock a borrowed bike from a campmate since it was their personal bike. The whole deal with the yellow bikes provided is that once your ass leaves the seat it is up for grabs to anyone. In fact nobody should be locking them up, if one is found locked the lock should be removed. As I said to the OP, they are all up for grabs, so even if you step into a portapottie you can't expect it to be there when you get out. In fact thats a good place to troll for a yellow bike.. wait till someone goes into the pottie and snag your ride before they get out.

[steveboy]

Yup. Yellow Bikes by definition are community property, and DPW will boltcut & take one if they see it locked. So will people like me. :)

20% of the Yellow Bikes were not recovered last year. Put that alongside the 1,000 bikes people left behind on the Playa and it doesn't really paint a pretty picture of universal understanding of Burning Man mindset.

[EB]

I'm wondering why the Yellow Bike program wasn't outlined and explained in the Survival Guide?

[EspressoDude]

Any bike thats not locked is up for grabs.

So does that mean it's OK to grab yours immediately after you step off and before you snap the lock on it....



I think that is not a valid statement

I never locked up the yellow bike I used unlike others, I did lock a borrowed bike from a campmate since it was their personal bike. The whole deal with the yellow bikes provided is that once your ass leaves the seat it is up for grabs to anyone. In fact nobody should be locking them up, if one is found locked the lock should be removed. As I said to the OP, they are all up for grabs, so even if you step into a portapottie you can't expect it to be there when you get out. In fact thats a good place to troll for a yellow bike.. wait till someone goes into the pottie and snag your ride before they get out.

OH, you were talking about YELLOW BIKES!!

[Bob]

I'm wondering why the Yellow Bike program wasn't outlined and explained in the Survival Guide?

What's wrong with surprises?

[steveboy]

I'm only speculating, but if I put myself in their place I have to think, Okay, I'm about to send out notice to 50,000 people that there will be 500 bikes available for use. How many of those 50,000 will say, screw it, then, I ain't bringing a bike; I'll use one of theirs? And the competition for community bikes will be ugly.

But don't make a big deal of it, and those in genuine need will be able to take advantage of the BRAC's altruism, and those just looking for yet another free ride -- literally -- won't be able to capitalize.

I guess that's cynical of me. Oh, well.

[JezebelinHell]

Depending on when you get into Reno, and how long you're staying here before heading playa-side, you could probably get lucky on Craigslist (well, not in the dirty sense, although you could probably do that too). If it's a weekend just hop on the site and look for garage sales. These are great because they generally haven't been picked through by other burners the way the pawn shops and second-hand stores have. If you're in a time-crunch you're probably going to be stuck going to Wal-Mart or Target. They have cheap shit, and trust me, you want a cheap bike. If you don't have any means whatsoever to get a bike to the playa (is a bike rack not an option?) then just suck it up and walk. I don't use my bike for anything but deep-playa art tours, and even for that you can usually catch a ride with an art car. You see more stuff and meet more people on foot anyway.