Updated Vehicle Rules and Protocols at Burning Man

[BRCDMV]

All,

The rules regarding Vehicle use at Burning man, especially Personal Transportation Vehicles (PTV) have been updated.

Please see:

https://burningman.org/event/art-perfor ... protocols/

[Sham]

I'm not giving a synopsis of the new rules on personal transportation allowed on the playa, but this addresses the issues of faster, motor powered devices. It seems to focus on scooter, gas powered bikes as well as other new gizmos not around just a few years back.

[lucky420]

I didn’t really see where it addresses power chairs though. Did I miss that?

[BRCDMV]

Hi,

If you mean electric wheelchairs, these are noted on the page regarding Disabled Person's vehicles

https://burningman.org/event/art-perfor ... -vehicles/

The following vehicles do not require licensing to be used as Disabled Person’s Vehicles :

Electric Wheelchairs
3 & 4 wheeled Mobility Scooters

Sincerely,

Chef Juke
DMV

[lucky420]

Thank you

[pappachuck]

Can I bring a mutated wheelchair even though I am not disabled?

[Sham]

Can I bring a mutated wheelchair even though I am not disabled?

Sure, if you have room in the moving truck you're bringing.

[pappachuck]

Does my lap counts as space?

[AntiM]

Can I bring a mutated wheelchair even though I am not disabled?

Having camped with someone who was in actual need of a powered wheelchair, my thought is anyone who brings one and thinks it is going to be a useful cushy form of transport is a damned fool who knows nothing about how heavy such things are, how susceptible to dust damage, how much power they suck, and how they sink into the playa, trapping the occupant. Many theme camps, and most of the art and mutant vehicles, are not wheelchair accessible. It is flat out a stupid idea.

[unjonharley]

The Cupcakes a few years back, were electric wheel chairs

[Ratty]

How are they powered?

They are all electric – so no, we don’t pedal them! The motors and mechanics are adapted from electric wheelchair, golf cart motors and small ATVs. They run on deep cycle marine batteries. At events like the Maker Faire, we recharge the batteries from the mains source. At Burning Man we recharge them on large solar panels set up in our camp.

How do I make one?

We are still working on more detailed plans - but basically, your mobile muffin / cupcake car comes in 3 parts:

1) The tin: made from 4 sheets of 4x4ft 26ga galvanized sheet metal.

2) The top: plywood, chicken wire, batting, and fabric.

3) The drivetrain: involves batteries, motor, controller, wheels, steering, and a seat. Some muffins have pre-packaged arrangement like the Minimoto ATV

If you have any more questions, (solar charger, measurements, etc.) Sign up for our email list and ask your questions there. NOTE: we get a lot of spam sign-ups on this list so you should send an email to one of our group members introducing yourself in order to get on the list.

How much do they cost?

Depending on the materials used, they cost between $500 and $1500. Or much more if you really want to get fancy. Galvanized sheet metal is about $75 for 4 sheets. Depending on the type of fabric you use, expect to spend $100 to $200 for the top. The Minimoto drivetrain is about $500 or more if you add batteries. If you have fabrication skills you may be able to use surplus parts and build the drivetrain for less, but you'll need at least $200 or so for batteries.

[pappachuck]

BTW, how fast can my stuff goes?? Because I have some serious electric motors.

Also, there is something we call IEC IP (international protection marking). It will be difficult to find a wheelchair or a consumer based product that complies to the IP to survive the weather at burning man. However you can find the parts to build your own projects, or even design based on that.

[gaminwench]

5 mph.

[sparr]

The requirement for working pedals is going to make some of my plans for small electric vehicles harder, but I think I can still manage. I had a technically-a-moped in high school where the pedals were really just a glorified kickstart and legal requirement than a useful option.

[Canoe]

The requirement for working pedals is going to make some of my plans for small electric vehicles harder, but I think I can still manage. I had a technically-a-moped in high school where the pedals were really just a glorified kickstart and legal requirement than a useful option.

Small electric vehicles. Hmmm.
Go read the rules.
Only Licensed Mutant Vehicles, Licensed Vehicles for People with Disabilities, a disabled person's Electric Wheelchair or 3 & 4 wheeled Mobility Scooters, and Allowed Participant Personal Transportation Vehicles.
"Working Pedals" refers to part of the rules for an "electric bicycle" under Nevada state law. There is also "Generally recognized as a bicycle" and "2-3 wheels".
Having an "electric vehicle" with working pedals does not make it an "electric bicycle" nor an Allowed Participant Personal Transportation Vehicles.

[Token]

When you FKOs decide you need inspiration, when you decide to be a real cool cat, when you decide that your conveyance needs to be EPIC...

Go see this:

http://s27.photobucket.com/user/LeChat2 ... sort=2&o=0

http://s27.photobucket.com/user/LeChat2 ... sort=2&o=0

Then read about every step of the transformation of the old tobacco setter.

viewtopic.php?f=100&t=19038

viewtopic.php?f=106&t=22962

Then step back and realize that building a transport for the wrong reasons is weak sauce.

Be a mensch.

[unjonharley]

Stop your collective-fat-ass-whining , Bicycle or walk ..

[pappachuck]

Just saying: 5 mph is too slow even for a bicycle human-powered.

[Sham]

Just saying: 5 mph is too slow even for a bicycle human-powered.

Pedaled bike on the open playa are not really subjected to speed limits. I had to install a GPS speedometer in my artcar to keep it in check. The big problem is that it quickly becomes unsafe to have vehicles speeding along with pedestrians and very dusty conditions. 5 MPH is it.

[Luigi]

Thanks Chef for the update. Gotta say last year I was turned off by the ebike explosion. Too many going too fast!

Let's face it - a fat tire electric motor bicycle is a MOTORCYCLE. So what if it has pedals, the things go 20 mph no problem.

I will stick to my old trusty schwinn cruiser - I have thought about electric assist, but why mess with tried and true? As long as I can physically pedal a bike, I will.

[some seeing eye]

Someday the stories of the DMV need to be collected and published along with the mug shots of the vehicles.

One of my great memories was the Neverwas Haul. I never rode it, but a friend of mine elaborately costumed in steampunk goth gave me a tour. That year is was pulled by an (I believe actual) steam engine from Kinetic Steam Works. The combination had safety walkers with giant mustaches in pith helmets and khaki bush jackets - all massively non-PC today, of course.

How does the DMV deal with steam powered MVs?

[sparr]

"Working Pedals" refers to part of the rules for an "electric bicycle" under Nevada state law. There is also "Generally recognized as a bicycle" and "2-3 wheels".

That section appears to be a not-entirely-accurate attempt to summarize the relevant (and linked) law.