2014 Vehicle Pass results

[Molotov]

Has data been published regarding the following?

• How many vehicle passes were sold?
  How many vehicles entered BRC in 2014 as compared to previous years? (Probably a vehicle to participant ratio would be helpful in interpreting these figures)
  Did it make a significant reduction of traffic?
  How was the money raised by vehicle pass sales expended?

[digital]

The numbers will likely be published in the 2014 Afterburn Report. I can't seem to find it which makes me think it still isn't published.

The previous Afterburn Reports, which were located at afterburn.burningman.com, are now gone thanks to this new "pretty" (but pain in the arss) website. I'd keep an eye on the official blog and JRS. Might take a bit longer this year given the current CompCamp controversy.

[BoyScoutGirl]

While many of us would love to see it, the BM Org is under no obligation to release these sorts of data. In fact, they have a loooong track record of not releasing detailed data on various related subjects. There is this though, while it's still up: http://financials.burningman.com/

The 2013 afterburn report went live 7 June of this year if that helps you get a sense of how long they take to prepare.

[Molotov]

I think they are going to have to release something to justify the continued vehicle pass fee and possible increase in $$$. On the other hand most of us enjoy BM so much we blindly accept all fees, if that's what it takes to go.

[digital]

I think they are going to have to release something to justify the continued vehicle pass fee and possible increase in $$$. On the other hand most of us enjoy BM so much we blindly accept all fees, if that's what it takes to go.

Doesnt ESD provide you a pass?

[some seeing eye]

The vehicle fee was designed to keep traffic vehicles per hour under a Nevada-set limit while balancing entry and exodus times. If BMORG wants to grow the event, they have to do it. The price is less than the price of road travel fuel from most places and in the range of a per participant carbon tax would be on event total emissions per person which are dominated by air travel.

[theCryptofishist]

Yeah, what he said. ^^^

The 2013 afterburn report went live 7 June of this year if that helps you get a sense of how long they take to prepare.

I remember one year it wasn't out until after the burn. Perhaps things will change as this is now a 501(c)(3).

[maladroit]

The vehicle fee was designed to keep traffic vehicles per hour under a Nevada-set limit while balancing entry and exodus times. If BMORG wants to grow the event, they have to do it. The price is less than the price of road travel fuel from most places and in the range of a per participant carbon tax would be on event total emissions per person which are dominated by air travel.

The vehicle pass is supposed to cap the total number of vehicles at the event, which may or may not affect the number of vehicles per hour at any given time.

The vehicle pass fee is a separate issue, and the question is whether the $40 was used to any noticeable effect on the traffic conditions. It would be a hard year to check that, due to the big rain delay inbound, and the extended Exodus.

[Molotov]

Digital wrote:

Doesnt ESD provide you a pass?

Digital-I sent you a PM.

[trilobyte]

As BoyScoutGirl said, Burning Man is under no obligation to provide any kind of detailed breakdown about vehicle passes.

Speaking personally, I think they may provide some information, either as part of the 2015 ticketing info announcement or as others have said as a part of the annual AfterBurn report (which typically comes out in spring or early summer).

[purcitron]

need exodus advice please.
never been to BM.
want to avoid exodus traffic.
-can i drive out on saturday night, shortly after the big burn, around 2am (sunday)? (what time is the big burn itself?)
-allowed to drive at night (to leave)?

thanks!

[SnowBlind]

Yes, you can leave at night.

Traffic should be better than it is during the day, but you never know. Lot's of people will try to avoid the traffic. Once the man has burned, exodus starts and lasts for the next 36 to 48 hours.

Please make sure the driver is sober and rested.

[purcitron]

Yes, you can leave at night.

Traffic should be better than it is during the day, but you never know. Lot's of people will try to avoid the traffic. Once the man has burned, exodus starts and lasts for the next 36 to 48 hours.

Please make sure the driver is sober and rested.

good point.
in your opinion, is it worth staying for both, the man burn & the temple burn? or is the man burn "enough"?
thanks.

[digital]

in your opinion, is it worth staying for both, the man burn & the temple burn? or is the man burn "enough"?
thanks.

It's your burn. Quit asking the board to plan it for you.

Leave when you want to leave. Stay for what you want to see.

[SnowBlind]

in your opinion, is it worth staying for both, the man burn & the temple burn? or is the man burn "enough"?
thanks.

I always try and stay for the temple burn. It has a very different vibe than the man burn. Much more solemn and quiet, as opposed to the party atmosphere of the night before.

On the other hand, some people in my camp always leave on Sunday morning.

It's a very personal preference I suppose.

If it's your first year, I'd recommend staying.

[danibel]

I personally do not want to miss a temple burn. I like both. Very different vibes as stated above.

You can leave on Tuesday after the burn. Spend Monday lazing around camp, wonder around and moop in high traffic areas or at your favorite theme camp/bar.

Pack everything just so and plan to drive to Reno as early Tuesday as you can. Unless there is some reason for you to boogie home, why not stay longer?

[Ratty]

I stay till Monday or Tuesday after... I've never seen the Temple burn. I probably never will. There are so many things to do and see. You will pick and choose.

[danibel]

I stay till Monday or Tuesday after... I've never seen the Temple burn. I probably never will. There are so many things to do and see. You will pick and choose.

Really Ratty? No temple burn? I don't want to miss it. I remember a few years ago when they changed the time. I knew about it and told everyone I could, but apparently the memo didn't go far and as it was burning I could see people running and biking as fast as they could from camps to get there before it collapsed. Now we all know - It burns at 8pm. Eat early. Get your ass moving by sunset.

Monday night is my favorite. It's all cleared out (well, not all, but a lot) and there are small parties and hangout spots, it's mellow. Lots of food and drinks with no mixer! LOL

[Ratty]

Danibel, I saw those people rushing there too. I didn't even go see the temple that year, (although the photos are beautiful). You really wouldn't want everyone to go to the Temple burn anyway. My first 2 years I was on exodus as they struck the match to the man.

[Molotov]

I usually stay until Tuesday. Sleep in. Hitch up the camper, then hit the road around 10 AM. Exodust (for me anyway) was great last year, although gate road had some deep dust drifts by then.

[danibel]

I think it was two or three years ago - We woke up Tuesday morning to wind. Little wisps of dust were blowing by and we knew in an instant that we had to pack immediately or get stuck in a dust storm. It was our first year leaving on Tuesday so we didn't spend Monday pre-packing, we simply enjoyed the day and told ourselves - we have Tuesday morning to pack! No worries. Well - that was not a good idea. When the van was about half packed dust started to really blow through. We started throwing shit in the van willy nilly. I didn't even wash any dishes. Thank goodness we had a bit of extra room because everything was shoved in. We hit the gate road as soon we could, hoping we were driving past the dust storm, but nope! We drove straight into a white out!! I turned on all my lights, hazards and everything and crawled at 3mph down a lane following the cones one by one. In the lane next to me assholes were passing going 20mph. After a little bit a big budget truck came up behind me, hazards and lights blazing. I became the front of the convoy and the budget truck was my rear. Once in awhile dust would clear, but mostly it was scary as fuck and I didn't want to stop and cause an accident behind me - so I kept going very slowly. I was so grateful to that budget truck in the rear for protecting my ass, and I think they were grateful that I was willing to be the leader. They never got too close to my ass. We made it to the blacktop safely, but I sure don't ever want to do that again!!!

[Eric]

Danibel - that's exactly the reason we look at the day before we leave as "start packing casually" time. We just pack some shit up, go wander, or eat, or hang-out, then pack some more shit, then wander - eat - hang-out, and repeat. We start on Sunday, we're comfortably ready to leave Monday, but don't have to if we don't want to. We've gotten our "shit, bug-out!" time down to about an hour (it would be faster, but our princess won't get her stuff packed before the last day, because ... princess)

[danibel]

Danibel - that's exactly the reason we look at the day before we leave as "start packing casually" time. We just pack some shit up, go wander, or eat, or hang-out, then pack some more shit, then wander - eat - hang-out, and repeat. We start on Sunday, we're comfortably ready to leave Monday, but don't have to if we don't want to. We've gotten our "shit, bug-out!" time down to about an hour (it would be faster, but our princess won't get her stuff packed before the last day, because ... princess)

Oh yes. We have learned our lesson. I start packing on Sunday and actually kinda keep things packed mostly throughout. We take the shade down Monday night as soon as the sun hits the mountain at sunrise. Really it's a matter of keeping the van straightened up because all the shit has to go in it!

Heh. Princess. giggle. I don't envy you having one of those.

[Eric]

Heh. Princess. giggle. I don't envy you having one of those.

She's actually a great camp-mate, it's only the tear-down bit that she comes up short. If it was more, she wouldn't be camped with us. Still, she does carry herself about like a princess (and makes a mean hummus...)

[maladroit]

If everyone is awesome, no one is awesome.

Although Burning Man is one of the few places that it's at least POSSIBLE for everyone to be awesome. It's like 95%, currently.

[digital]

If everyone is awesome, no one is awesome.

Although Burning Man is one of the few places that it's at least POSSIBLE for everyone to be awesome. It's like 95%, currently.

I'm not awesome. I'm okay with that. Feel free to mock my defaultia clothes and lack of imagination.
Boring is the new awesome.

[maladroit]

If everyone is awesome, no one is awesome.

Although Burning Man is one of the few places that it's at least POSSIBLE for everyone to be awesome. It's like 95%, currently.

I'm not awesome. I'm okay with that. Feel free to mock my defaultia clothes and lack of imagination.
Boring is the new awesome.

There's no way I'm going to even indirectly mock DPW.

[theCryptofishist]

I dunno. I don't hear DPW horror stories, anymore.

[maladroit]

Not after the DPW truth squads started kicking down tent flaps and fucking people's days!

[Captain Goddammit]

I think they are going to have to release something to justify the continued vehicle pass fee and possible increase in $$$.

They absolutely don't have to. It's a private business, not a government organization. They can charge whatever the hell they want.
I know they had to cap the number of vehicles, but adding the $40 fee is a joke; it has less than zero effect on anyone's decision to bring a vehicle. $40 is a drop in the bucket of travel expenses. It's also highly doubtful that all that money will ever benefit anything or anyone but the event owners.
There's nothing any of us can do except go with the American free market rules; pay the price if it's worth it. When it's not worth it, don't pay and let 'em go out of business.