RIDESHARE BEWARE! A tale of woe from last year...

Lothar · Post by **Lothar** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 12:51 am

This is a cautionary tale for all those hitching rides with strangers. I have done this in the past and had great experiences, but after last year I shall not do it again:

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Someone posted that they had an RV rental lined up for Burning Man 2006 last year, and with the deadline fast approaching I responded to the ad. I spoke with a guy that sounded like he was my age on the phone saying something about attractive females on the RV and how it would be a blast, really positive sounding... I agreed to go and paid him one-way for my share of the ride and said I'd consider paying more to have access to the RV. Access to an RV at the burn, a luxury I had not experienced my previous 4 years at BRC.

On the phone he called me twice more after getting the RV, each time with a new story about something he hit with it on the way getting it home.

When I met the guy, he was supposedly around 30 but looked around 50. He asked me if I could get my hands on any acid. I said no, I did not partake. He said he'd done acid hundreds of times and really liked it. Hm. Red flag #1. I've known a few burned-out hippies that were essentially good people, and he reminded me of my uncle so I let it slide. We picked up his friend, who was a working-class kinda guy. Nice but a bit of a drinker. He was going to drive since our host decided he was the only one among us qualified to drive the RV (which was already quite messed up at this point) We picked up two other people from the ride-share site for the trip and started the trip to BRC. As the ride progressed it became apparent that our host was not just eccentric, but buck-fucking nutty. He'd obsess over things that weren't there and go apeshit over irrelevant things. On the way up, his friend's infected upper-tooth started acting up in Reno, his friend was going to simply ignore it for the week and dull the pain by drinking beer. I knew this was potentially life-threatening and when I raised objections, our crazed host refused to let his friend stop to seek treatment, not wanting to be late to burning man. After several hours of drama and the other passengers pleading with me, we got him to take his friend to the hospital where they informed him how dangerous it could have been and gave him antibiotics.

(It was about this time I had a gun pulled on me in a parking lot by a local gangbanger in Reno.)

Still a bit shaken, and not having slept for the entire trip from LA, our host decided to relieve his friend (who had driven the entire way without stopping to sleep and was in severe pain from his infected tooth) On the last bit of the road to BRC from reno he would drive the last leg of the journey... and as a result almost ran us off the road when he swerved to avoid something that wasn't there. So he made his friend, now sleep-deprived and in severe pain, drive some more.

We arrived in the wee hours of the morning, all of us completely exhausted. Our eccentric host decided to let us have some rest and exited the RV to use some of his overly-abundant energy. we were thankful and set down for some much-needed rest. Less than one hour later he busts into the RV, demanding everyone unload, upon which time he starts playing drums. That was it. I had a vision of the rest of my week with this guy and I had enough. I wanted out. I told him I would not be staying with him and therefore not paying the extra fee to stay in the RV (as opposed to what I'd already paid him just for the ride) and he flipped out. The other 2 ride-share passengers walked out with me... After an INSANE shouting match in which he seemed to almost come to blows, he then proceeded to lock us out of the RV (with all of our stuff in it) and go off somewhere in a huff. The three of us decided it would be safer away from this guy.

So there we were. In the middle of BRC, no clothes, no tent, no water, no food, no ride home. That first night I slept on playa in an art sculpture that looked like a little pyramid. Later we managed to get most of our things a little at a time thanks to the assistance of his friend and some awesome and helpful rangers, even though at one point this guy tried to blackmail me my water in exchange for some weed. A real class act...

Thanks to the kindness of the rangers and some truly awesome people from Gigsville and the Burning M-bers camp, we got our stuff back, borrowed a tent, got back our supplies, and made it home. We never got our money back for the use of the RV we never had access to (for the rideshare folks that pre-paid) or the ride home we never got. Sadly, this ordeal became the bulk of our burning man experience last year. I've been meaning to write up this experience for some time so that others may avoid the same mistake I made last year: if something seems amiss in your guts, trust them.

Rider beware.

Thanks to all the wonderful support and help the rangers gave me last year in our time of need, I will be rangering myself this year to return the karma.

Much love, see you all on the playa!

-Dreamy

MrMullen · Post by **MrMullen** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 7:37 am

You should make comments on the guy if he posts in ride share. Since you have posted no information I going to guess that he is free to pull the same stuff over again.

Moral of the story, never tie your Burningman experience to the generosity of others. Always be radically self reliant and never depend on people you can't radically trust.

Angel Ben · Post by **Angel Ben** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 2:22 pm

Yeah, I've offered up rides with the ride share in the past, but I'd be very hesitant to commit myself to camping with somebody I don't know. I let somebody stay in my Reno hotel room last time, and almost missed my plane because they had their stuff strewn about when it was time to go, and the room was in my name. Not even doing that again, but I'd still use the ride share again, you just need clear boundaries.

Post by **mdmf007** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 2:42 pm

Lothar I feel for you -

But you have to admit it may have sucked at the time, but now you have a kick ass story to tell. You know this guy will be there this year as well. So I woul think of ways to get back at him humorously.

i.e. Pick up some roadkill on the way to BM and put it in his RV, Do the flaming tird bag and ghost knock him. Man I could have so much funwith that guy, in fact come find me and I will help you.

later

lothos 1162 · Post by **lothos 1162** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 8:07 pm

Lothar I feel for you.I give rides each year to someone on ride share,first we meet,then discuss the trip,then I run them through NCIC,DOJ,FBI and DMV....if you have that capability.Lothos

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 8:44 pm

Dang, Lothos, did you ever run me?

(Maybe this is a question I don't want answered)

Kisses and hugs nonetheless, have a great burn and don't let the playa chicken get sodomized with a tabasco sauce bottle this year, 'kay?

Hoolie · Post by **Hoolie** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 12:28 pm

Lothar wrote:I spoke with a guy that sounded like he was my age on the phone saying something about attractive females on the RV and how it would be a blast...

That would have been my first red flag right there. If he's giving you the hard sell with dubious promises (i.e. some guy talking about hot chicks on board), proceed with caution.

Beyond that, we should make a distinction between rideshare and sharing a camp. It's important to get to know the person you will ride with, but even more so for people you will camp with.

Rideshare is a great thing, but I think the lesson learned is to find out as much as possible about your traveling companions beforehand. And be wary of accepting larger commitments (shared vehicle rentals, sharing camps, etc.)

lothos 1162 · Post by **lothos 1162** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 5:25 pm

Fishy,nope didn't do that,only for peeps I don't know.Lothos

Valkyrie · Post by **Valkyrie** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 8:50 pm

Wow, that sounds worse than the fellow I was talking to that has me in a bind without a ride now.

The fellow I thought I was going to ride with talked a good talk. I don't know if he'd been to burning man before or not, since I now don't believe a word of the two many-hour phone calls I had with him (well, except the part where he said he was a horn dog, now that I believe.)

He said he had an art bus with a dragon on it. He said he had a lot of artist friends. He said his partner was into technology/science, although he was a builder and had never graduated high school. (I'm inclined to believe that high school part.)

But he talked about Burning Man as if it were just one big sex fest. He asked me if I minded exhibitionism. I told him I didn't care. I should have been more explicit with a response: "I don't mind so long as you don't mind me reading while you're doing it. I'll bring several books for the ride, although I would rather spend the time on my costume projects, which I really would rather work on at home."

He disappeared after I told him I couldn't go in his house because he had a cat. Strange how his house has anything whatsoever to do with a ride to the desert, don't you think?

amorphouspentagrameter · Post by **amorphouspentagrameter** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 10:36 pm

Hi,

That sounds like a nightmare to go down in BM history. Maybe it would be helpful if you published the nutcase's name and description? But hopefully that person will never come back - still, you never know; he sounds like someone who deserves to be outed!!

Best Wishes with all of your future and current BM experiences - and kudos for being a Ranger! That's noble.

AMRPHSPNTGRMTR

Valkyrie · Post by **Valkyrie** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 11:53 pm

edit: whups, I don't think he was responding to the nutjob I posted about.

So many people use bad experiences like this to not open up to others again, which I think is the worst damage these people could do.

Lothar · Post by **Lothar** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 2:04 pm

His name was Brian something or other, was a drummer... and he lived out in Los Feliz area of LA... I doubt they'll ever rent this guy an RV again. Said he was a veteran from from rainbow festival. I'd hate to think he's indicative of rainbow-folk but after my experience in dealing with this mental case I will never ever attend a rainbow event.

If you hear from someone that goes by that description, just say no!

-Dreamy

hayduke · Post by **hayduke** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 8:29 pm

Found this on Reno Craigslist. Food, Drinks, Tickets, etc. for a ride. Yea right.

Reply to: see below
Date: 2007-08-23, 4:16AM PDT

"Iam want to share my 24ft Winnebago motorhome with Fun, Open & Party minded ladies(2) or a couple", it has fridge, stove, shower, commode, generator, etc, & the ride to & from Reno to Burning Man". "You bring extra Burning Man Ticket, Food & Drink for us, "We'll leave from Reno when ever is best for you."

"Iam 45yrs old, retired from Medical Field, enjoy music, adventures, fun people, open minded to alternitive partying"
"Iam looking forward to having a AWESOME time with New Friends!" CHRIS
CONTACT ME SOON! doctorswan2 sbcglobal net

edited to break the email addy
Anti M

Post by **AntiM** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 7:37 am

Well worth bumping as rideshares gather steam.

graidawg · Post by **graidawg** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 10:37 am

AntiM wrote:Well worth bumping as rideshares gather steam.

oh yes aunty M if only for this line

"Kisses and hugs nonetheless, have a great burn and don't let the playa chicken get sodomized with a tabasco sauce bottle this year, 'kay?"

someone pass the screen cleaner please

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 3:35 pm

Lothar wrote:So there we were. In the middle of BRC, no clothes, no tent, no water, no food, no ride home. That first night I slept on playa in an art sculpture that looked like a little pyramid. Later we managed to get most of our things a little at a time thanks to the assistance of his friend and some awesome and helpful rangers, even though at one point this guy tried to blackmail me my water in exchange for some weed. A real class act...

Thanks to the kindness of the rangers and some truly awesome people from Gigsville and the Burning M-bers camp, we got our stuff back, borrowed a tent, got back our supplies, and made it home. We never got our money back for the use of the RV we never had access to (for the rideshare folks that pre-paid) or the ride home we never got. Sadly, this ordeal became the bulk of our burning man experience last year. I've been meaning to write up this experience for some time so that others may avoid the same mistake I made last year: if something seems amiss in your guts, trust them.

Rider beware.

Thanks to all the wonderful support and help the rangers gave me last year in our time of need, I will be rangering myself this year to return the karma.

Much love, see you all on the playa!

-Dreamy

Sounds like a real horror show of an experience until the community took you in and made it better.

I give you kudos for your restraint. I would have handled the situation in a decidedly different manner in terms of how the events unfolded once on the playa and had some douchebag holding my gear hostage.

nemokitty · Post by **nemokitty** » Wed Feb 23, 2011 12:52 am

Whoa. We were considering opening up our RV to give lifts, but are suddenly feeling not so generous...

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Wed Feb 23, 2011 3:45 am

nemokitty wrote:Whoa. We were considering opening up our RV to give lifts, but are suddenly feeling not so generous...

It can be a crap shoot to be sure. Just like any other large collection of people that gather together, you will get the full spectrum of human behavior.

90/95% of the time it should be fine and a good experience, but it only takes one bad experience to really make you rethink being generous.

gerlachedNloaded · Post by **gerlachedNloaded** » Wed Feb 23, 2011 6:36 am

beware ALL rideshares. Last year, my virgin year, i found two people who were seemingly very cool on the rideshare board arriving and leaving exactly when i was needing to. I paid them upfront for a ride to and from the Playa. All was well UNTIL we got to BRC. They dropped me off at my camp and then basically disappeared. i happened to run across one of them near their camp on burn day and was told they were just about to come tell me about the exit plan (right). They would pick me up at my camp (yes, they knew where it was, they dropped me off and had the camp name) at 3 am after the man burned. no problem.
Went to the ceremony and partied hearty, but made sure to be back to my camp well before 3 to pack my shit up and be ready to go. I got done a bit quicker than i had anticipated (even had my tent packed) so i grabbed a chair and proceeded to fall asleep for a few (i was DIRECTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CAMP UNDER A HEAVY SET OF LIGHTS). i froze my ass off as i didn't want to unpack my sleeping bag for fear of making anyone late to go. i wake up and check my watch. 2:45 am. i doze off again. i wake up again in what felt like 10 minutes. my watch says 4:45. I freak out. The assholes left me. I run nearly a quarter of the way around the city in the cold pitch black panicked beyond belief to their camp to find their stuff gone. I start back and realize the street signs had been jacked and i was lost. I ran as fast as i could in the general direction of my camp and happened to find it somehow. Still no car. I could NOT miss my plane back as i would have lost my job and it left very early.
i nearly had a breakdown. luckily a few of my awesome campmates (BDC) happened to show up and i pleaded with them for help. they offered to take me and my stuff to the gate in hopes of hitching a ride. not at all ideal, but i didn't care at that point. on the way in their artcar we happened to spot a car trailing us. one of the guys from my camp got out and asked them if they were heading to Reno. They said yes, to the airport. and they were more than happy to let me ride along. turned out to be a wonderful couple who were veteran burners and had an early flight to catch as well. we actually bypassed exodus completely and got to the airport early. Right before boarding the plane, i saw my "ride" standing in line for his departure. he saw me too and turned white as a ghost. i wanted with everything in me to lay into him, but thanks to the generosity of a few, i was where i was supposed to be. so i just looked away.
Those few made my burn. thank you ever so much.

Dr. Pyro · Post by **Dr. Pyro** » Wed Feb 23, 2011 7:53 am

Josh, that just sucks! Glad some Barbiebarians were able to help. Clearly we need to kick some ass every now and then.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Feb 23, 2011 11:11 am

Yeah, perhaps it's best to leave 24 hours in front of your plane take off so that there's room for that sort of manuvering. Of course, that is adjusted depending on factors taht you know and I don't.

newlight · Post by **newlight** » Fri Jul 22, 2011 3:46 am

BDC rox!

I got desperate in Reno and caught a ride to SF with an unknown guy who posted in cl. He was cute, kinda weird, but did drop me at the door. Next morning, I find my laptop missing. Call him all day-- no reply. Finally, he calls and tells me where to meet him. Just as we arrive there, he calls again and says he didn't find it and has left town! I tell him I'm going to report the loss to the cops for insurance purposes and have his plate # (not true). He gets mad and hangs up; I'm basically screwed. I'm in shock for a while. Then, he calls back, says he found it and offers to deliver it right then!!! Whew.

Be careful! And-- take a pic of the plates with your phone.

Playa Nai`a

RIDESHARE BEWARE! A tale of woe from last year...

RIDESHARE BEWARE! A tale of woe from last year...

ride share

Re: RIDESHARE BEWARE! A tale of woe from last year...

ride share

Sounds a little like this guy. Ie., lots of red flags

Re: RIDESHARE BEWARE! A tale of woe from last year...

Re: RIDESHARE BEWARE! A tale of woe from last year...