Powerwheels?

[eliskipp]

Would a kid's Powerwheels toy be against the rules? They are not very large or anything and stand up pretty well to dust and grime.

[Sham]

What is a Powerwheels toy? Do you have a picture?

[Sham]

Is this the thing you're talking about?

[GreyCoyote]

Dont know if it is against the rules or not but they let them in! One year this cute little blondie about 5 years old delighted in cruising up and down H and 5 o'clock. She had half the burners in love with her. The rest of the block was still unbelievably cool about her being there and everyone kept an eye on her. Her parents were neat too. They decorated the car so she had an "art car" (It had a long dragging tail and bunnie ears with a wind-up key). It was fun, but one of the parents was always within 30 feet of her and paying very close attention.

Since we had power and they didnt, her Barbie Hot Wheels wound-up parked in our camp every night, as did Mom and Dad. Mornings we did mickey-mouse pancakes for her and advil for the parents when they came to collect their recharged vehicle.

My vote? If you have one, and will watch your kid, BRING IT. And decorate the heck out of it. And bring a spare battery. It seemed to be a great way to make new friends.

[some seeing eye]

Burningman has a surprising list of rules. Especially about vehicles that are not powered by pedals. Strictly within your village, maybe the rules would not be enforced. But given the vast possibilities for engagement and diversion for children at the event, is this an essential one? Would your children understand the limits and rules? Potential crushing disappointments abound. Do not bring.

[AntiM]

Four wheels and no pedals, technically against the rules. If you didn't have a child with big sad eyes in the vehicle at Gate, stands a chance of being impounded. The wheels, not the child.

[GreyCoyote]

Burningman has a surprising list of rules. Especially about vehicles that are not powered by pedals. Strictly within your village, maybe the rules would not be enforced. But given the vast possibilities for engagement and diversion for children at the event, is this an essential one? Would your children understand the limits and rules? Potential crushing disappointments abound. Do not bring.

Party pooper. (engage good-natured tongue in cheek dialogue here. Dont take this seriously, please)

Life has a surprising set of rules. Like "nazi-minded people who want to enforce order upon the newbie masses should leave the little kids out of their aspirations"

Seriously. Lighten up. Half of the burn is drunk, stoned, altered, unlawfully happy or is sleeping with someone elses husband/wife/siggy other/poodle. And you want to rain on some kid for having a little fun?? For real?

Tell you what. Wait until the little nipper is having a safe, fun burn and then call a ranger. Tell them that little five year old is "violating the terms and conditions found in the Burning Man survival guide and is therefore a serious danger to law, order, decorum, and the spirit of concentration camps throughout history". Demand a written report and escalate to the Pershing lads.

While you are doing this, I will be be playing peek-a-boo with this hardened criminal and waiting for her arrest. And tweaking her batteries, because you just never know when some munchkin may need to bust a move and rabbit from da cops.

(sarc aside. Some Seeing Eye may have a point. But if it was me, I would bring it!)

[theCryptofishist]

The wheels, not the child.

They never do take the snot-nosed brats, do they?

[GreyCoyote]

If the absolute criteria is four wheels and no pedals... Welll... Do the math.

Fortunately there is wisdom at Gate! Kids and wheels get thru.

[MikeGyver]

An important question that hasn't been asked. Is the PowerWheel for a kid or for you? If its for a kid around camp you'll probably get away with it, If its for you to ride around Burning Man it will get impounded.

[Captain Goddammit]

Yep, technically any non-human- or wind-powered vehicle needs DMV licensing which requires sufficient "mutation".
But if it's for a little kid, I can't imagine anyone having a problem with it. And hell they only go about 2 miles per hour.
If you happen to be my neighbor I'd run you a cord to charge it.

[Captain Goddammit]

Yep, technically any non-human- or wind-powered vehicle needs DMV licensing which requires sufficient "mutation".
But if it's for a little kid, I can't imagine anyone having a problem with it. And hell they only go about 2 miles per hour.
If you happen to be my neighbor I'd run you a cord to charge it.

[mudpuppy000]

This guy stopped by our camp one day. I thought it was pretty awesome. He could drive the powerwheels from the "trailer".

[GreyCoyote]

Arrest that man.

Not only does he have a permit-lacking non-pedal four wheel powered vehicle, he has - GASP!! - a TRAILER!! And no running lights!

What shall we do with all of these non-age-appropriate darkwad scofflaws! (snicker)

[AntiM]

And call BRC Animal Control for that bear. Guilty of being adorable!

Anyway...
No one wants to be a hard-ass about a child's toy. But there's the rules and people who interpret and enforce those rules. Just so there's no surprises at the Gate and gnashing of teeth if it gets impounded. There's a chance it won't fly. Being prepared is knowing what is and is not allowed.

[BBadger]

Make your fatass kids bike or walk. It'll do 'em good!

Anyway, you'll be recharging those Powerwheels all the time. They only get a few hours on each charge and you'll be limited by their range. You'll be dragging a bike there for them anyway.

[eliseeagle]

So I guess that means a riding ice chest is out? Darn!

[trilobyte]

When in doubt about a vehicle on the playa, contact the awesome folks at [email protected] and I'm sure they'd be happy to let you know. Child-sized vehicle vs. full-sized vehicle may very well have a different set of rules (as they do in Defaultia).

I like the idea of mutating it, that could end up being a great art project for parents and child to work on over the summer (either mutating the existing body or building a mutant chassis to put onto the vehicle's frame for use on the playa). I've seen some cool mutant wagons that parents towed behind bicycles, my favorite was an elaborate pirate ship with the two kids on board dressed as pirates. No idea whether I just happened to catch them on pirate day, or their parents were forcing/letting them dress like pirates every day of the event so their matching outfits would match their transportation (you know there are parents out there who'd do that).

[KcFink03]

This guy stopped by our camp one day. I thought it was pretty awesome. He could drive the powerwheels from the "trailer".

Hi! Do you still have a picture of the "guy who stopped by your camp"?? I believe I may know the gentleman but the link for the picture isn't working I would really like to see if we are talking about the same guy and his powerwheels. Thanks!

-KeVinci

[capnjonny]

Just my experience ,
a couple years ago I broke my hip before the burn and some friends loaned me a 4 wheel electric mobility scooter to get around on. I didn't have a permit - didn't even know I needed one.

I was never stopped or asked any questions during the event( maybe the crutches strapped to the seat gave me cred).

I have much more of a problem with self entitled adults blasting around at high speed on Electric bikes.

I actually brought an E bike last year along with my Trek 800 burner bike. Got it from the Bike Exchange to fix up and wanted to see how it would handle the desert. I found it was very difficult to ride at the 5 mph speed limit. The throttle on these bikes is a on/ off affair and riding 5 mph requires you to constantly tweek it surging back and forth between about 5-8 mph. all of the other E bikes I saw were traveling at least 10 mph down the street, a dangerous speed around so many other bikes going helter skelter in a hundred directions at once.

[AntiM]

Mobility scooters for those who need them are not questioned. You obviously needed them. They're such a pain in the ass that they are not much of a problem.

I am going to electrify my trike, but will pedal in "traffic". I can still pedal. I think.