!!READ ME!! Gates & Entry

[trilobyte]

Some of this you may have already known, some of it is new.

THE GATES OPEN AT 6PM ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 26

• Do not show up to the box office before this time unless you (and everyone in your vehicle) has a valid early arrivals pass.
• Have your LEGAL photo ID and printed confirmation email ready when you get to the box office.

Gate will also be running its very own radio station at 95.1fm (signs will also be posted on gate road), offering gate-related PSA's and other information.

WHICH LANE FOR WILL CALL? It doesn't matter! The gate crew is making some changes to the process this year, one of them is to create a spot ahead of the gates they're calling the Apex. It's a nice big gap in the traffic where they'll be holding cars, and a gate crew member can then easily (and safely) direct any car from any lane to any other lane. Pay attention and do what these fine people tell you, they want to help get everyone into Black Rock City as quickly as possible.

DRIVERS, BE RESPONSIBLE! If anybody in your vehicle does not have a ticket, the entire vehicle will be turned around and sent to Reno. Drivers, make sure that all your passengers either have a ticket in hand, or printouts of the confirmation info they will need for the box office. Any vehicle found to have a stowaway on board will have tickets confiscated from ALL passengers, the vehicle will be denied entry, and everyone on board will be sent home. Also, you can get busted for DUI in the gate line (or anywhere else at Burning Man), so please exercise good judgment.

HOW HELLISH WILL WILL CALL BE? I don't know the specifics, but it shouldn't be terrible. The ticket team knows the numbers, and has staffed up appropriately. Have your LEGAL photo ID and printed confirmation email ready when you get to the box office. Help them to help you get through the line as quickly as possible.

IF YOU'VE GOT TO GO… then use the porta-potties! There will be 56 porta-potties along the gate road - that's twice as many as last year!


For Early Arrivers

• Do not show up before the arrival date you are approved for (so if you're approved to show up on Saturday, don't show up on Thursday).
• Everyone in your vehicle needs to have early arrivals valid for the date you plan to arrive.
• The Box Office/Will Call Window opens up at noon on Wednesday, August 22nd.

[CapSmashy]

ABOUT THE WILL CALL LOT

Please, please, PLEASE try to park in as organized of a fashion as possible. We had people trapped in there last year having to wait for other people to get back to their vehicles to move them.

Also, please remain in your vehicle until you get to the will call lot. Even if you are a car load of 4 and only 1 person needs to go to will call to get their ticket, stay with your vehicle and friends. Why:

1. Walking in the lanes is extremely dangerous. That guy that's just driven 28 hours straight cracked out on Red Bull and sugar from Kansas may not notice you walking in front of his ancient RV with shoddy brakes. Getting run over in the lanes is not a good start to your Burning Man experience. There's a reason gate crew has big steel structures to hide behind.

2. Gate crew is not staffed to help you re-locate your friends. "They were right here 45 minutes ago when I walked to the will call lot". "What are they driving?" "A pickup truck with a trailer." "0.o" You loosing your ride creates a number of problems including you being stranded in the gate area, your friends holding up the line waiting for you to catch up, your friends being sent to D-Lot to wait for you, etc. It is faster if you stay in your car and funnel back into the gate lanes after you get your ticket.

[Elliot]

Hear, hear! And specially avoid parking close to any large vehicle, please. My bus-and-trailer measures 65 feet long, and requires "40 acres" to make a turn. Thank you!

[FIGJAM]

And a mule?

[Elliot]

Most likely, young people have no idea what "40 acres and a mule" means. (Warning: Thread drift in progress.)

Back on topic: Great information, Trilo!

I'll take the opportunity to add a favorite worry of mine this year: Drivers of large vehicles are at risk for true stowaways. That is, someone who has snuck onboard without your knowledge, maybe on the trailer. So I suggest searching your own rig in Wadsworth or Nixon or other suitable place. Maybe again when you are in line for the Gate. (Do NOT pull onto the shoulder along 447 or 34. You will sink in the sand.)

[stew]

And if everyone packs their stuff nice and neat so that gate staff can do their thing quickly, we'll all be happy to wait less and being able to drive into the city earlier at 5 miles per hour

[CapSmashy]

And if everyone packs their stuff nice and neat so that gate staff can do their thing quickly, we'll all be happy to wait less and being able to drive into the city earlier at 5 miles per hour

Meh, we'll just send you to D Lot if you packed your vehicle like a pack of cracked out monkeys.

[Ratty]

True story. I was 'greeting' and a big rig clipped one of the virgin bells on it's metal stand. The frame for the bell neatly hooked into the bar on the side of the trailer that you lift to open the door. On he drove. It's dark and dusty. He couldn't hear that the clanging noise was following him. I ran after him screaming. It wasn't untill he had to stop in traffic that I caught his attention. It could have been a bicycle, a greeter, a virgin, a small car, me or you. Don't get out of your car!!

[ygmir]

as an Apex lead, I can attest to the fact we can get you to will call, from any lane, safely.
We maintain a large gap, between folks in gate line, and inbound traffic. We don't want your tickets, or passports. All we ask is do you have them, and, if you need will call. We'll get you there safely.
Also: please pull all the way into the lot, don't stop halfway in traffic to take a photo, or let someone out. We will explain your issue, if you do.
And please, please, watch for our team in the lanes.
Don't be "altered" driving.
Don't be asleep at the wheel.
And please follow instructions.
This works very smooth and is the fastest possible system into city, if everyone plays along.

[gyre]

True story. I was 'greeting' and a big rig clipped one of the virgin bells on it's metal stand. The frame for the bell neatly hooked into the bar on the side of the trailer that you lift to open the door. On he drove. It's dark and dusty. He couldn't hear that the clanging noise was following him. I ran after him screaming. It wasn't untill he had to stop in traffic that I caught his attention. It could have been a bicycle, a greeter, a virgin, a small car, me or you. Don't get out of your car!!

That is a scary thought.
I can attest to the possibility.

In arkansas, a few years back, a friend and her husband were going down the freeway at night.
Suddenly a flash of something by the road ... a hand! or just an illusion in the dark?
The dismissed it, then just couldn't not know.
Long way between exits.
They finally pulled over and made a big circle.
Trying to creep along in the right lane to spot it again ... There!
It was a hand!

Now what?

They find a phone eventually and call the highway patrol, expecting trouble for making stuff up.
Their response really freaked them out.
"Oh, you found it! We've been looking."

Seems they had a semi with a guy tangled up in the right side, hanging there, bled to death after losing his hand.
For miles people had tried to flag the driver down.
They didn't know how far the truck had driven with the passenger or who he was.
They believed he was a hobo and got caught up while trying to hitch a ride.
She never heard if they figured it all out.