Well S3 and 2/3rds (or Gimpy Longstocking as I've been referring to her lately) recently took a spill on a camping trip with our village mates and busted up her fibula. She'll most likely be out of the wheelchair by the time BM comes around but will surely be weak from non-use.
I've searched around the forums and read a few topics dealing with disabilities at BM. We have a CA temp disability placard and are filling out the (BRC)DMV form for disabilities but had to stop when it came to the vehicle info portion.
I was hoping that the eplaya could recommend some mode of transport for someone recovering from a serious leg injury. We're bringing the RV so our transport is out of the question. Motorized scooters are probably a bad idea since her balance and leg strength are going to be issues. The DMV says they won't authorize any ATV's. Mobility scooters and the like are prohibitively expensive. I'd rather not burden the guys at Hot Wheelz camp as I'm sure there are people more in need of their service.
What are the options for a broken burner? Are there things we can rent that will hold up on the playa?
Preferred Disability Vehicle
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safetythird
- Posts: 187
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- Location: Grover Beach, CA
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PlayaPetal
- Posts: 196
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one of my campmate a few years back rupture her achillies tendon and was in a cast up to her hip - she went and tooled around in a regular wheel chair...lots of people along way offered free pushes to her destination...she said it wasn't a huge problem and she still had a great time...
Don't worry; it only seems kinky the first time.
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Kinetic IV
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If I remember correctly having the placard is not enough, a letter from an attending physician is required.
Moving past that the motorized scooter with a seat idea should be acceptable under the circumstances. There's been scooter discussions on the eplaya in the past that broke down the details on the scooter policy...I don't have time to pull up cites right now but it's out there. The DMV is mainly concerned about speed....and preventing the scooters from turning into low buck, undecorated pseudo art cars...under your circumstances and with that documentation you shouldn't have too much fuss getting something approved. The DMV is a pretty good group of people...if you have meet the requirements it shouldn't be much trouble to work something out.
Moving past that the motorized scooter with a seat idea should be acceptable under the circumstances. There's been scooter discussions on the eplaya in the past that broke down the details on the scooter policy...I don't have time to pull up cites right now but it's out there. The DMV is mainly concerned about speed....and preventing the scooters from turning into low buck, undecorated pseudo art cars...under your circumstances and with that documentation you shouldn't have too much fuss getting something approved. The DMV is a pretty good group of people...if you have meet the requirements it shouldn't be much trouble to work something out.
K-IV
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Thank you for over 7 years of eplaya memories. I have asked Emily Sparkle to delete my account and I am gone. Goodbye and Goodluck to all of you! I will miss you!
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Thank you for over 7 years of eplaya memories. I have asked Emily Sparkle to delete my account and I am gone. Goodbye and Goodluck to all of you! I will miss you!
One word, safetythird: rent
In 2000, Louise broke her leg at one of the theme camp's fundraiser - complete fracture of the tibia and spiral fracture of the fibula. Here's a photo of her turning into The Civilized Explorer compound in the go-cart we rented:
You can see a DMV sticker and almost in the shot is the blue card that gives her permission to drive the go-cart pretty much wherever she wants. We were stopped frequently by Rangers telling Louise she couldn't ride her go-cart, but they allowed her to pass when we pointed out the blue card.
I can't remember who I emailed to get all this permitting through, but it was handled timely and without hassles.
I recommend against anything that won't stay upright on its own. It's an invitation to disaster. The go-cart was fine because it was gas-powered, and we didn't use anything close to the five gallons we brought. We ran out of gas on the way back to camp, and I was pushing her and hauling my bike, and some guy poured in some from his supply - many thanks. Gas is plentiful at the Burn.
If they won't authorize a go-cart, ask what they will authorize (it may be that they would no longer authorize a go-cart, if they're telling you no ATV). BMorg will be helpful to requests for help. Tell them what you can find locally and what you can get to the Burn (we put the go-cart in our commercial van with no problem).
Louise (as you may see from the photo) also had crutches. It rained, and the portapotties were a slippery mess, so Louise was allowed to use the Ranger station portapotties which had dry floors (and were close to our campsite).
Don't forego asking at HotWheelz and also see BMorg's page on wheelchairs at
http://www.burningman.com/preparation/e ... chair.html
HotWheelz will have lots of suggestions for you, and there are no people more in need of service than Gimpy Longstocking.
People on the playa are happy to give.
In 2000, Louise broke her leg at one of the theme camp's fundraiser - complete fracture of the tibia and spiral fracture of the fibula. Here's a photo of her turning into The Civilized Explorer compound in the go-cart we rented:
You can see a DMV sticker and almost in the shot is the blue card that gives her permission to drive the go-cart pretty much wherever she wants. We were stopped frequently by Rangers telling Louise she couldn't ride her go-cart, but they allowed her to pass when we pointed out the blue card.
I can't remember who I emailed to get all this permitting through, but it was handled timely and without hassles.
I recommend against anything that won't stay upright on its own. It's an invitation to disaster. The go-cart was fine because it was gas-powered, and we didn't use anything close to the five gallons we brought. We ran out of gas on the way back to camp, and I was pushing her and hauling my bike, and some guy poured in some from his supply - many thanks. Gas is plentiful at the Burn.
If they won't authorize a go-cart, ask what they will authorize (it may be that they would no longer authorize a go-cart, if they're telling you no ATV). BMorg will be helpful to requests for help. Tell them what you can find locally and what you can get to the Burn (we put the go-cart in our commercial van with no problem).
Louise (as you may see from the photo) also had crutches. It rained, and the portapotties were a slippery mess, so Louise was allowed to use the Ranger station portapotties which had dry floors (and were close to our campsite).
Don't forego asking at HotWheelz and also see BMorg's page on wheelchairs at
http://www.burningman.com/preparation/e ... chair.html
HotWheelz will have lots of suggestions for you, and there are no people more in need of service than Gimpy Longstocking.
People on the playa are happy to give.
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/trek ... 182893.php
Unfortunately, this mentionon gizmodo crashed the site, so this is all the information you get on a "trekinetic" wheelchair till the company site recovers.
edited to add that it's foldable and off-road.
Unfortunately, this mentionon gizmodo crashed the site, so this is all the information you get on a "trekinetic" wheelchair till the company site recovers.
edited to add that it's foldable and off-road.
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safetythird
- Posts: 187
- Joined: Wed Jun 23, 2004 1:10 pm
- Location: Grover Beach, CA
- Contact:
Thanks phil! Your advice is golden. Drinks are on me this year! 
I thought I read a couple times on the DMV pages that they won't register ATVs and I understand their position. I sent an email to DMV regarding which types of vehicles they recommend and am waiting to hear back. Where did you happen to rent the kart Louise used that year? Looks perfect for this intended use.
We live at the entrance to the dunes and have noticed artificially high prices on everything offroad related. Like REALLY INFLATED. Depending on what I can negotiate with the owner of one rental business it may be cheaper to buy a used gokart for her use this year and turn it into something wild for next year. Damn, there goes the budget for a generator. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
S3
I thought I read a couple times on the DMV pages that they won't register ATVs and I understand their position. I sent an email to DMV regarding which types of vehicles they recommend and am waiting to hear back. Where did you happen to rent the kart Louise used that year? Looks perfect for this intended use.
We live at the entrance to the dunes and have noticed artificially high prices on everything offroad related. Like REALLY INFLATED. Depending on what I can negotiate with the owner of one rental business it may be cheaper to buy a used gokart for her use this year and turn it into something wild for next year. Damn, there goes the budget for a generator. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
S3