Q2-Wounded burner on the playa. Gokart/scooter/bike sidecar

[dreamorph]

Hello there fellow burners,

I am finalizing our travel and mobility plans for Burning Man this year and I thought I would solicit some "wisdom of the crowd" advice from you all.

Question 2 (question one is in another thread) - Getting a wounded burner around on the playa - gokart? electric scooter? bike side/front car?:

My lovely lady has a number of injuries, both new and old, that have been causing her serious mobility problems where she can't walk for a long time or go up stairs, and might have problems with a bike too. One old issue is a wounded shoulder and two strained wrists (which might be a problem for extended biking) but the most troubling issue is a dislocated ankle that has essentially imobilized her for weeks. It is an old injury that recently got immensely worse to the point where her ankle constantly fails and aches whenever we are walking around town and she can't get up stairs at all. She is getting a bit better through some physio but I do not think she will be able to walk or bike around the playa for a whole week.

<b>Plan A - gokart or electric scooter - self propelled vehicle:</b>
We have been looking into buying (or maybe renting) a seated gokart or seated scooter (either gas or electric powered). For gas getting a couple of gas cans and extra gas for it should not be an issue. For electric we have no generator of our own but are planning to camp with others that have a generator (although leaching off someone else's gennie can be rude and unreliable we would definitely contribute gas). Here are some examples of what we are looking at:
Basic gas powered go kart -
http://bellingham.craigslist.org/mcy/1854474685.html
http://reno.craigslist.org/mcy/1873871970.html
http://reno.craigslist.org/rvs/1863353089.html
Basic seated (or maybe standing) electric scooter which may or may not work for a 180lb driver -
http://reno.craigslist.org/for/1863483037.html
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/mcy/1874927593.html
http://eugene.craigslist.org/for/1843095468.html
http://eugene.craigslist.org/ele/1848270538.html

We know we are a bit late for July 31st DMV registration (either as a mutant art vehicle or a mobility challenge registration) but we are communicating with them to see if we can get a exception for a mobility registration due to the late appearance of the injury which is required for any gas or electric powered seated vehicle. Another issue is that she is not a driver and the injury condition is temporary so she has no state/provine issued registration card to send to the BRC DMV for mobility consideration (she could easily get a doctor's note/physio reference and information though). If no registration is possible then we might have to look into a gas or electric powered standing scooter. It would need no registration but I worry about the standing and especially using her bad ankle when stopping or dismounting and jarring it to the point where she is fully immobilized.
This thread from last year shows chances might not be good for a mobility exception without a state/province placard, even for a last minute injury, but I will be filling out forms and contacting DMV right away just in case it will work:
http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... highlight=
More current thread from a lucky injured burner who got a gift and their applicaiton in on time -
http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic.php?t=35199
More current DMV mobility registration guidance -
http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic.php?t=35012

<b>Plan B - modified bike with side or front car/basket:</b>
We were considering a towed bike trailer she could ride in behind a bike but riding behind the dust trail of a bike sounds no fun. We were then looking at things like this for side car or front car:
Possibly getting a friend to help build this (at a bolt on to a bike) - http://www.instructables.com/id/Title-t ... /finished/
Or (findng or making) something like this - http://matadornetwork.cachefly.net/mata ... bikes9.jpg

The pedal power means no DMV registration is required (which simplifies things and makes it more certain). I worry about two 180lb people (plus water and whatever ice cargo we have) on a bicycle construction like that either getting mired in the dust or just having problems getting my wimpy, couch potato legs to get the whole mess to move under my meager pedal-power. Slightly less of a concern is that it is structurally sound due either to strong welds (which would take resources and skill to build in a short time and/or luck to find an existing one) or a strong bolted on attachment plan that fits perfectly and connects firmly and flawlessly to our bike.

<b>Plan C - Cross fingers and just walk and bike around and hope her ankle does not get permanently destroyed. Hitch rides on art cars:</b>
I hope it does not come to this option alone.

<b>My questions for all of you:</b>
Do any of you have specific good or bad experiences with electric or gas powered scooters and gokarts? Sitting or standing? Were they reliable enough and good enough for charge/gastank range on the playa to support someone who needed it to get around for the week (not just the occaisional optional joyride)? How about specific experiences or knowledge about a side/front car/basket attached to a bike? Is a trailing wagon behind a bike not too bad for dust and should we consider that too? Do any of you have experience with mobility card registraiton with the BRC DMV, especially for a last minute injury and/or for a person without a permanent or temporary official state placard/card for their car? Finally do any of you have a vehicle or sidecar like I described (or some other good option) that is either for sale or available to rent/borrow during the burn (especially in the Seattle or Vancouver area so we can arrange it before the drive down instead of relying on connecting up on the way down through WA/OR/CA/NV)?

Thanks for any advice you have and see you on the playa,
Tony the Tiger

[unjonharley]

I saw a rig where the front wheel of a bike was removed.. Then mounted on the cross bar on the back of a wheel chair.. Might not work at Burning Man but worth looking into..

[unjonharley]

Or get her a trike and you ride a pusher bike, mounted like in the last post

[C187]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rickshaw

[AntiM]

Check with mobility camp, they make provide some help part of the time. They have a thread down in 2010 theme camps.

I have mobility issues and cannot walk far or ride a bike. No placard. We have a two seater four wheeled bike. Make me reliant on my hubby for pedal power, but we're joined at the hip anyway. We're working on a trike and one person four-wheeler we have so I can handle them. This year, electric assist is allowed on two and three wheeled bikes.

Adult trike with electric assist. Pricey but playa legal.

[FIGJAM]

[theCryptofishist]

I saw a rig where the front wheel of a bike was removed.. Then mounted on the cross bar on the back of a wheel chair.. Might not work at Burning Man but worth looking into..

The whole wheelchair thing is really weird when it comes to pricing. I think those run 800 and up new. and independent of the wheelchair itself. It might be part of a long term plan with much searching of craigslist.

[portaplaya]

You cannot get any vehicle past the gate unless you have an invite letter from the DMV. This is the letter that says, we reviewed your mutant vehicle proposal and we invite you to show to us in person for final approval.

The only other exception is a human-powered vehicle (normally a bike or wheelchair).

You will definitely need to get the approval of DMV to bring a motorized vehicle for your lady, and she will need to have a placard in order to get the Handicapped sticker on the back of that vehicle.

Typical solution for people that want to travel the miles involved with BM it so buy or rent a golf cart. Example:
http://www.sierragolfcartandauto.com/rentalproducts.nxg

I base this on my experience as a former Ranger and current Gate staffer, but I can't speak for DMV and what would be required there. Nor am I the official voice of any department, which might have more accurate information than I am aware of.

[portaplaya]

Advice on vehicles aside, the back of the ticket clearly lists the risks involved, all of which are exacerbated when you are mobility impaired.

Not only do your physical risks increase, but your risk of not enjoying the event and the risks of personal problems with (more mobile) campmates increases if you rarely get out of camp.

But, these are risks, not predictions. In the sense of Radical Inclusion and Self-Reliance, I invite you each to determine your own comfort level with these risks and make your own decisions.

[phil]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/civex/3449968377/

Here's Louise in the go-kart we rented when she went with a broken leg. This was in 2000, so the rules were different for getting permission for those with impairments, and we also knew before the summer that she'd need a go-kart, so we had plenty of time to get the permission.

She was on crutches (bungeed to the back of the cart), and there were problems with slipperiness when it rained. However, Burners are the kindest, most generous, and most caring bunch of people in the world, and help was always volunteered - we rarely had to even ask.

Good luck and go for it.

[crstophr]

I've run go-ped style stand up gas scooters one year. The maintenance made them a hassle and just not worth it. Folks also hate the noise and exhaust. They were nice while they worked but broke down on me about half way through the event. I'd avoid a gas scooter and would be a bit skeptical of the effectiveness of an electric version.

Last year I stuck an electric motor and batteries on a pedal powered tandem, recumbent, tricycle (An awesome craigslist find). My GF had broken her ankle and torn her acl a few months prior to the burn. As this is pedal powered by default nobody minded the addition of a motor to help us along. This was a huge success. It opened every corner of the playa to us despite her mobility limitations. Nowhere was too far away to go at any time of day. I was able to pull a wagon behind it and could easily haul 12 ice bags back to camp when needed. The motor worked great 90% of the time but it did require some pedaling to get through very soft areas.

Well.. she did it again this year. Tore the acl the rest of the way a few months ago and recently had surgery. So once again the trike will come to our rescue.

For a disability situation an electric trike is hard to beat short of bringing a golf cart and registering it with the DMV with a disabled permit. An electric bicycle would be the next best option.

--Chris