Yet another scooter question.....

[¡Niers!]

I was wondering if anyone could help clarify the vague rules regarding stand up scooters.
I have some electric motors and large wheels that I used in '09 for a mutant vehicle I built and am tearing it apart for another purpose.
Next year, I'd rather not deal with registration and long lines at the DMV (Sounds very DEFAULT).
I am thinking of building 2 stand up electric scooters that carry 2 passengers each. The frame will be built from scratch but essentially it will be a longer, bigger version of an e-Scooter.
A scooter on crack!

My question is, would this perhaps fall into the excepted realms of not needing registration?
Strictly stand up, no seats, 2 wheeled, solar charged, 2 person ride.

And......go!

[Eric]

I think this: "Though not an encouraged means of transportation, small, stand-up (no seat), one-person style “skateboards on wheelsâ€

[¡Niers!]

I read that too, but as it reads......"one person style"
I was hoping for some clarification.
I honestly see no difference between it carrying one or two people. Then I think about e-bikes being allowed, and the thought of an e-bike made for 2 comes to mind.
I'm kinda leaning towards just doing it anyway, and if I'm stopped on playa....so be it.
I'm assuming that if just one person was riding it, no foul.....correct?

Personally, as far as the "Though not an encouraged means of transportation" part of the excerpt, I say pfft!
I'm all about not using gas and most of what I see moving around the playa are gas guzzling monsters. Though, neat and creative these things are, gas sucks ass! It's bad enough that close to 30,000 cars, SUVs, and RVs drive hundreds even thousands of miles to get there, including myself. But add in the hundreds of DMV approved gas users, sheesh!
Sorry for the slight rant.
I just wish BMORG would loosen up the fist on regs for stuff made with a green eye.

[slvrnmph]

They are discouraged because they don't add to the event. When I see a pirate ship "sailing" across the playa it adds to my playa experience. When I see a scooter of any type on the playa I think that lazy person needs to build up some biking muscles. If your "scooters" look like scooters I personally don't want to see them on the playa.

Just because it's made with a green eye doesn't mean it can't detract from the experience. Most of the scooters people bring out that fit the rules to not have to be registered are noisy eye sores.

[Sic Pup]

I'm kinda leaning towards just doing it anyway, and if I'm stopped on playa....so be it.

Better to ask forgiveness than permission.......


providing you won't be too bummed if you're asked to register/sideline it.

[Eric]

I'm kinda leaning towards just doing it anyway, and if I'm stopped on playa....so be it.

Better to ask forgiveness than permission.......

As long as you're willing to have Gate impound it in an unsecured lot for the week if they decide it's an unregistered MV.

I would strongly suggest sending your idea to the BRC DMV & getting an official position on your vehicle. All we can do is speculate.

[Sic Pup]

Well that fits loosely under the category of sidelined....... ha ha.

[SnowBlind]

There is definitely a weight limit for scooters. The text you quoted only says small, but at some point the definition was that you must be able to pick it up with one arm (outstretched arm, or something like that). They may have refined that to an actual weight limit, I'm not sure.

Either way, I'm pretty sure a two man scooter would *not* qualify.

[¡Niers!]

I have plenty of biking muscles.....I just like creating things like this, and I feel the stuff I'm talking about DOES contribute to the event. I for one, like to see all the cool rides and stuff that people create for the playa.
I never said they would "Look" like scooters. I will, of course be adding some WOW factor to them.

All the same, I'd hate to bring something that would piss even one person off.
Perhaps I'll put some more thought into the whole project.
I am just a one man show and don't have the funds to create the kind of stuff I'd REALLY like to build. But, I'm sure I can think of something better than these first thoughts.
Now, I'll dig another rabbit hole.

[Eric]

All the same, I'd hate to bring something that would piss even one person off.

Don't worry about that. Hell, my existence pisses some people off, but there's no reason for me to worry about it, is there?

Create the scooters how you envision them. Just check with the DMV before bringing them to the playa so you know if they abide by their rules.

Personally I would rather see everyone in an interesting 1 or 2 person art car than another one of those damn MUNI buses decorated with some sheets & EL Wire pretending to be altered. Too many of the barges get approved, not enough small vehicles.

[¡Niers!]

Two things.....
In '09 when I brought my mutant vehicle, on the way in they didn't even notice it in the back of the truck....I had to bring it to their attention.....they felt competent.

Second.....when I went to get my vehicle registered, the DMV "Hotties" said they don't like to allow the small "carts", but since mine was built from scratch they wanted to give me props.

I personally can't stand the vehicles like purple palace. Looks like an articulated bus with music, lights, and straight porn. If you aren't someone they'd like to fuck, like me.....a fag, they'll let a line of pussy in first.
Makes for a great night. Thanks for your contribution, P.P.

ok that was ranty as well. I must need to get laid.

[Fire_Moose]

"I'd hate to bring something that would piss even one person off."


Yer doing BM wrong.

[¡Niers!]

Yeah, I guess that statement was kinda out of character for myself.
I don't mind pissing the tourists off....or should I say pissing on them?

[¡Niers!]

@Snowblind....

As the rules do say, "small, stand-up (no seat), one-person style “skateboards on wheelsâ€

[gyre]

I know of at least one hand built gas stand up out there that isn't bothered.
Being able to carry a passenger should be a plus.
Electric or a silenced motor is a plus.
The one I'm referring to is very unusual looking.

My personal guess is that if it is interesting enough it will be left alone.
There are scooters that are registered as mutants also.

Raise dust or create a safety hazard and I have no doubt it would be impounded.
Build it so it can go slow or keep it out of the city.

[Zhust]

One thought is that you can build a high-power one-person scooter with a trailer. Like what if the stand-up scooter was the head of a serpent, followed by several trailers that represented the body of the serpent. And the body parts could be animated somehow to imply that it was actually sliding its way through the Playa as if it were water.

But if you're building a "protest vehicle", the DMV still holds the power and they don't care. I would assume that some people who work there are out for the power trip and, regardless of whether it's safe enough or follows all the rules to the T, all it takes is one person impounding it to rain on your parade.

That said, it may be an interesting exercise to plan a protest at DMV in the likely event your new vehicle gets impounded. The trouble is getting enough people to do it. I imagine if you had a seed group of 10 at your disposal with placards and you had information on the vehicle that was "illegally" impounded that you could inspire others to join.

Naturally this sounding an awful lot like something I should do rather than suggest that someone else do it, but if I did, it wouldn't be for at least a couple years (I have a project for 2011 already). I'm particularly fond of being an iconoclast who clasts counter-culture icons -- not that I'm against them, but I think it's important to let people know what they represent; hopefully in some kind of enlightening and entertaining manner.

It's also, obviously, a big gamble. Building an art car is way too much work and quite a standing bet. I'm suggesting the protest as a way to at least make the impound ... umm ... "fun".

In the end, I have to agree that sending a note off to DMV may be your best starting point. They may exempt you right away and then it'd be known in the DMV ranks. Or they'd ban those shitty scooters and chuck them all in DMV impound.

[Bob]

I have an idea -- prance around in a silly costume and give piggy-back rides.

[theCryptofishist]

But if you're building a "protest vehicle", the DMV still holds the power and they don't care. I would assume that some people who work there are out for the power trip and, regardless of whether it's safe enough or follows all the rules to the T, all it takes is one person impounding it to rain on your parade.

Knowing three people who work for the DMV, one quite well, I think you are unfairly characterizing the hotties. I realize that you said "one" but from what I can tell about the process no one person has that kind of veto power.

[Dustdevil]

The DMV does not impound vehicles. If someone attempts to bring in a vehicle without the proper documentation, the Gate staff would impound the vehilce. When I asked a friend of mine on the DMV Council the question that started this thread I got the following reply.

"If it has a "two or more wheels, a seat and a motor" it needs a license.
So, the vehicle you are describing (no seat) does NOT need a license"

There is no DMV impound. Any vehicles impounded by the Gate would be in or near D Lot. That being said, the Rangers can and have impounded vehicles and sent them to D Lot, but that would be for operating without a license or operating in an unsafe manner. You really have to screw up before that would happen.

Also, to deny a Mutant Vehicle an invite to the Playa takes more than one person. The applications are reviewed by a group of Hotties as they come in. While my involvement with the DMV is with vehicles that have Flame Effects, I also participate in the application reviews. I cannot speak for the Gate Staff, but there is no one person in the DMV who can "rain on your parade" if you have followed all the rules and the vehicle is safe.

[motskyroonmatick]

"If it has a "two or more wheels, a seat and a motor" it needs a license.
So, the vehicle you are describing (no seat) does NOT need a license"

This agrees with my knowledge of Mutant Vehicle Regulations.

Looks like you got your go ahead iNIERS! Build away.

[Zhust]

But if you're building a "protest vehicle", the DMV still holds the power and they don't care.

Knowing three people who work for the DMV, one quite well, I think you are unfairly characterizing the hotties. I realize that you said "one" but from what I can tell about the process no one person has that kind of veto power.

True. I'm projecting my impressions of other power-structures that issue permits. I'm also basing off a few noisy people who complain of the challenges of getting their vehicle registered without assessing the details of those situations. Sorry for that.

[¡Niers!]

And so the question goes answered.
Now to step forward with the planning.
Thanks friends!

[tubahurl]

This year, instead of lugging the Tubahurl to BRC, I opted to make some ground transportation. Per the current rules, this is what is allowed. The gate people scrutinized it but let it through. The fact that it was all electric and geared really low, made it well received from most people.

http://deviantev.com/leadped

[Teo del Fuego]

purple palace. Looks like an articulated bus with music, lights, and straight porn.

I shouldn't agree with you since those guys are from my home state, but I agree, PP bus is pretty much a wasted creative opportunity

[theCryptofishist]

purple palace. Looks like an articulated bus with music, lights, and straight porn.

I shouldn't agree with you since those guys are from my home state, but I agree, PP bus is pretty much a wasted creative opportunity

It's a terrible, terrible thing when we get intra-state disapproval, instead of the natural inter-state kind.