BRC Buses - when a car's not an option - late arrival

Free2B · Post by **Free2B** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 5:37 pm

Please share any BRC transport you know of... I know of only one, but I hope there are others. http://www.burncleanproject.org - their site is expired, which happened last year as well, but was back up before burning man. They're great, but none of the organizers are answering my emails to weather they'll be running this year...

I'm coming in tuesday night or wednesday morning, so ridesharing becomes tricky. Even if I find someone, if they flake, what are the chances of finding a ride on the spot tuesday/wednesday... Trying to figure another way. Thanks for any help.

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 6:30 pm

Well, not everyone arrives on Monday. If they did, the line at the gate would be even longer! So the usual options are still valid on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The option I know of, assuming you are arriving by air, is to take a cab to one of the semi-official ride-sharing spots -- which I believe are listed on the main web site. One of those spots is at a grocery store where you can get your water and so forth.

Now.... Since this question comes up so often, I keep thinking that some Reno bus- or taxi- company is missing out on a business opportunity.

Free2B · Post by **Free2B** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 7:13 pm

ha, never noticed a semi-official rideshare spot on the site, thats a good plan B

dragonpilot · Post by **dragonpilot** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 8:17 pm

Check out Green Tortoise http://www.greentortoise.com/adventures ... tival.html

or if that's too pricey, if you fly into Reno there's actually a BM Travel Help Desk at the airport (somewhere).

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 8:27 pm

Free2B wrote:ha, never noticed a semi-official rideshare spot on the site, thats a good plan B

http://www.burningman.com/preparation/t ... Stops.html

The Save Mart grocery on Keystone is the one I'm familiar with. But I hear more about Twin City Surplus.

motskyroonmatick · Post by **motskyroonmatick** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 12:08 am

Elliot wrote: Now.... Since this question comes up so often, I keep thinking that some Reno bus- or taxi- company is missing out on a business opportunity.

I was quoted $300 for a ride to the playa by a taxi driver in Reno after my trip to the hospital.

I think bumming a ride at Walmart or even a gas station is nearly a sure bet. There is also a ride hot line that people can call in to for getting or giving rides. The number...I don't know it.

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 9:49 am

I was quoted $300 for a ride to the playa by a taxi driver in Reno after my trip to the hospital.

So if a taxi/limo/bus outfit were to take a typical shuttle bus (20 seats?), make stops at the airport, Save Mart and Twin City, and charge $50 a head....

Let's see....
7 AM, driver comes to work and drives to airport.
7:30 AM, arrive airport.
8 AM, depart airport.
8:20 AM, arrive Save Mart. Driver takes break.
9 AM, depart S M.
9:20, arrive Twin City Surplus. Driver break.
10 AM, depart T C S.
1PM, arrive BRC, drive directly to Gate, then Greeters, disembark. Driver break.
2 PM, bus returns to Reno,
5 PM, driver parks bus and goes home.

How do the passengers get from Greeters to their camps? By Mutant Vehicles, of course.

20 passengers at $50 is $1.000. $200 for driver, $100 for fuel.... One bus might net $500 per day. Sound like a business plan?

[This from a guy who has no head for business at all -- I'm just asking, why is some casino-airport-shuttle operator in Reno not making a few thousand extra every year doing this?]

motskyroonmatick · Post by **motskyroonmatick** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 10:21 am

Elliot wrote:[This from a guy who has no head for business at all -- I'm just asking, why is some casino-airport-shuttle operator in Reno not making a few thousand extra every year doing this?]

They are all at Burning Man Having a priceless experience?

Seriously one could buy/rent a bunch of school busses and run a quite profitable operation for a week.

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 12:06 pm

...and run a quite profitable operation for a week.

So why is the famous American profit-based system failing to cash in on this opportunity? Are they waiting for the Chinese to show up and do it for us?

gerlachedNloaded · Post by **gerlachedNloaded** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 1:00 pm

tag.. you're it

it's my one week to NOT work. i'm taking full advantage.

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 1:20 pm

Of course. "Never complain unless you can suggest a solution." "Do-ocracy." Etcetera. And I agree. I describe Burning Man to people as "the only REAL VACATION I ever have."

But there are 299.000.000 people in this country who really should not even consider participating in Burning Man, and quite a few of them are looking for work so they can pay the rent.

So here is this situation once a year in Northern Nevada, where a levelheaded person with a bus driver's license, and a business owner with a bus operating permit, can both make a few extra bucks -- and fill a legitemate need for us vacationers in the process. Sounds to me like something the Reno Chamber of Commerce, or Tourism Office, ought to be able to arrange in an hour flat.

trystanthegypsy · Post by **trystanthegypsy** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 2:34 pm

My thoughts on the matter:

If someone already has a bus & liscense, they are probably getting pretty good use out of it, especially as (at least in Canada) school starts that week.

If someone has a bus & liscense that isn't being used regularly, then they would also have to charge for insurace and whatever additional maintenence costs.

If one were to rent a bus from a charter company, it would probably cost more that $50/head, and there is a fair amount of risk if you don't fill up said bus.

So I think the costs would be more than the market will bear, and too big a risk to just try it out.

Post by **Elderberry** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 2:53 pm

There was the Bio Bus, but they got into trouble last year for not having proper permits, so I don't know if they will be providing the service again this year.

JK

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 3:21 pm

Well, no fly-by-night operation will ever last long. Having worked in trucking for quarter of a century, I can confirm that you must have the paperwork in order.

But it could very well be, as Trystanthegypsy says, that the market just isn't there. Could be that Free2B, and the guy on the skate board, and every other burner who asks this question winds up catching a ride with other burners, and in the end the bus line would have three passengers all week.

Only way I can think of to find out is to take fully paid reservations in advance, with full refunds if the service must be cancelled for lack of sales.

motskyroonmatick · Post by **motskyroonmatick** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 5:49 pm

I think a well organized and advertised round trip bus service with room for stuff would work. How much do burners spend on rental cars in Reno? I bet it is a tun of $$$$ What if you could get half of those people to use the bus service?
Disclaimers about exodus and flights would be needed for the return trip.

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 7:41 pm

Maybe you just figured it out.

How much do burners spend on rental cars in Reno? I bet it is a tun of $$$$ What if you could get half of those people to use the bus service?

Then the car rental industry would be up in arms!

motskyroonmatick · Post by **motskyroonmatick** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 9:36 pm

Elliot wrote:
Maybe you just figured it out.

How much do burners spend on rental cars in Reno? I bet it is a tun of $$$$ What if you could get half of those people to use the bus service?
Then the car rental industry would be up in arms!

If I was not a burner I would be totally in to giving this kind of thing a shot.

Post by **mdmf007** » Sat May 01, 2010 5:38 pm

motskyroonmatick wrote:I think a well organized and advertised round trip bus service with room for stuff would work. How much do burners spend on rental cars in Reno? I bet it is a tun of $$$$ What if you could get half of those people to use the bus service?
Disclaimers about exodus and flights would be needed for the return trip.

There are a lot of hurdles as well. We did this for 3 years and it is a pain in the ass. Aside from the legal admin - the biggest hurdle was the schedule some trips would breeze right in, and some would crawl and get mired down in traffic.

Exodus almost caused fist fights with 3 or 4 people because they scheduled super tight flights with our ESTIMATED return times. Some were earlier than posted, some later. You cant please everyone all the time.

Drop a PM, perhaps you can fix our shortcomings and make it a success.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Mon May 03, 2010 5:25 am

A hotel was doing this last year, I think.

I can think of some fixes for the delay issue, mdm.

LostinReno · Post by **LostinReno** » Mon May 03, 2010 12:44 pm

dragonpilot wrote:or if that's too pricey, if you fly into Reno there's actually a BM Travel Help Desk at the airport (somewhere).

Last year the help desk was in between luggage pickup and where you come down the stairs from your plane. You couldn't miss us if you had to grab luggage. The Reno/Tahoe airport absolutely loves burners! They even provided a guest/sign in book to see where all people were coming from. Last year the desk ran from the afternoon of the Friday before the gates opened up until I believe the following Friday before the burn.
They provided us with tables and a pretty good sized chill space for people waiting for friends etc. There was even a big dry erase board set up for people looking to ride share. In the two shifts that I volunteered, I saw so many people hooking up that didn't previously know each other. Being a virgin burner at the time, I thought this was total awesomeness! I still think it's total awesomness!
It's about a $10-$15 cab ride from the airport to Trader Joe's/Whole Foods (they are about a mile apart). I saw tons of people hooking up for rides at both places.

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Tue May 04, 2010 10:07 am

That post ought to be a "sticky" or otherwise easy to find!

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Tue May 04, 2010 11:05 am

I would rent a vehicle.

DiveDogFLL · Post by **DiveDogFLL** » Wed May 05, 2010 6:40 pm

schools and churches have lots of buses, and lots of down time....

business opportunity for someone....

gerlachedNloaded · Post by **gerlachedNloaded** » Thu May 06, 2010 6:16 am

ooh, ridin a jesus jalopy would be tits

LostinReno · Post by **LostinReno** » Thu May 06, 2010 9:19 am

DiveDogFLL wrote:schools and churches have lots of buses, and lots of down time....

business opportunity for someone....

Washoe County School District could make bank.
Sadly, school starts August 30th here. It used to always start the Tues. after Labor Day. I'm not sure why they changed it?

Dr. Pyro · Post by **Dr. Pyro** » Thu May 06, 2010 12:09 pm

Probably got tired of the little shits coming back from Burning Man stoned or something.

LostinReno · Post by **LostinReno** » Thu May 06, 2010 3:54 pm

Dr. Pyro wrote:Probably got tired of the little shits coming back from Burning Man stoned or something.

Hahahaha!! I'm thinking they changed it sometime in the mid 90's.

Free2B · Post by **Free2B** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 8:41 am

As much as I was excited about hitching in, I've decided to FLY! http://advantageflight.com/bman.html

Free2B · Post by **Free2B** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 8:49 am

loook what i just found: http://www.couchsurfing.org/group_read. ... st=6199012

graidawg · Post by **graidawg** » Sat Mar 05, 2011 3:40 am

LostinReno wrote:
dragonpilot wrote:or if that's too pricey, if you fly into Reno there's actually a BM Travel Help Desk at the airport (somewhere).
Last year the help desk was in between luggage pickup and where you come down the stairs from your plane. You couldn't miss us if you had to grab luggage. The Reno/Tahoe airport absolutely loves burners! They even provided a guest/sign in book to see where all people were coming from. Last year the desk ran from the afternoon of the Friday before the gates opened up until I believe the following Friday before the burn.
They provided us with tables and a pretty good sized chill space for people waiting for friends etc. There was even a big dry erase board set up for people looking to ride share. In the two shifts that I volunteered, I saw so many people hooking up that didn't previously know each other. Being a virgin burner at the time, I thought this was total awesomeness! I still think it's total awesomness!
It's about a $10-$15 cab ride from the airport to Trader Joe's/Whole Foods (they are about a mile apart). I saw tons of people hooking up for rides at both places.

thought this one as worth mentioning in the time before virgins get as panicy as me about getting to BRC. also the airport meet point sounds pretty damn cool