1) Don’t report to Playa Info,
2) Don’t go to the Bike Guild
3) Don’t Ask the Rangers to Broadcast your Stolen Fish.
Around 7:00 pm before the Burn, my Playa Fish, which was attached to my bike was lifted from my camp, Wild Animal Sanctuary Space at 3:30 and the Esplanade. I had just dusted my fish off and was staging it with the other school of fish for our Fish Run around the Man when some Burner took it, and left in it place a broken red specialized , that looked like it had been stolen ( green paint spattered over the bike brand name.) A repeat offender no doubt.
After discovering that my artwork was not only taken but my means of transportation to the Burn and mode of lighting myself on a very dark playa, I was in a state of disbelief that a wonderful BM experience could be destroyed by one thoughtless, thief. Where is the love and respect for Art people? I know it’s out there.
In years past, my fishy had been greeted with cheers and praise from fellow burners. We were told many stories about Fish encounters in the past on the Playa. How the fish helped a tripping burner find his way back to camp. How the fish were the original Light Wire Artwork on the Playa. People stop to give us gifts or show us their ocean related tattoos.
I spend my whole burn night, and Sunday night, checking all bikes piles on the Playa and at Camps for my Fish and Bike to no avail.
On Sunday morning, I went to Playa Information, but was told me that bikes were not considered stolen until Monday. I was frustrated that the guy dismissed my statement that my bike was indeed stolen. You don’t mistakenly climb on a bike with a 8 foot pole and fish attached and think it’s your own. And what about the art???? Suggestion, Playa Information should consider providing guidance on how to list/report items stolen.
Same story at the Bike Guild. I thought they would have log for stolen or lost bikes but they didn’t. It was like, nobody listened to the fact that my Fish was Art, not just a bike.
I got a little more support from the BM radio station staff, and was directed to report it to a ranger, but when I approached a ranger with my situation, was told why should they announce my missing fish on their radio when were dealing with emergencies related to people overdosing, etc. etc. but it’s a Playa Fish. I feel that this artwork so beloved by the Burner community should merit some type of assistance from BM staff.
Is there a solution to this? Well of course the easiest is bike locks and perhaps art locks.
However, with all the bikes borrowed, lost or stolen, seems like there should be a system in place to help Burners like myself recover their bikes. Perhaps, a bike corral were bikes abandoned or borrowed could be turned in.
Also, maybe all the unclaimed bikes left at Burning Man, could be painted one color, yellow with flames maybe, and a community bike center could be established. Bikes could be loaded out and Burners who have had their bike borrowed, broken, stolen or lost during the event, easing their pain by providing alternate transportation. They could also list their bike as lost so that staff could try to identify bikes. People who accidentally borrow someone bike or feel guilty about taking someone’s bike can return it to the bike corral with no questions asked. Maybe the bikes could be stored at the ranch, and a few work parties to paint the bikes and prep for the event could be hosted. The camp could be run by volunteers. Maybe this has been done before and failed.
Anyone have thoughts on the bike camp? Any one with a fish story to share?
