Need a ride? BEWARE OF R/V Scams!!!

[bruce508]

Hello fellow burners:
Last year I needed a ride, typically last minute. I would say about 5 out of the 7 people I finally contacted all turned out to have the same story, which started with "ride to BRC in awesome lux for cheap in our R/V...":
* They were circumspect about how much it would really cost ("Oh, gas shouldn't be much...didn't joe email you?...get back to you tomorrow on that.... and on and on. ")
* They wanted me to pay an outsized share of the rental (Oh, but we're taking care of everything...).
* Despite the outsized share, I was explicitly _un_invited from staying in the R/V or even in their camp!

I think one person wanted 25% of $1300, yes, I said $1300, to rent the R/V for the week, even though they "weren't sure there would be room for me to stay, maybe but we're not sure."

This post is about helping burners needing rides to not get shafted; it is not about insulting people who want to share R/Vs. I'm sure there are generous and fair R/V renting burners out there. Just ask for the deal, straight up, definitely in advance, and if people will not give you full details, don't commit!

I have gotten rides to BRC 2X, and both times, the drivers were generous beyond reason, they asked for less than my share of gas, period. This is pretty typical - if a driver asks for more tell them I said shouldn't happen. I think passengers should pay their share in gas only, plus some small extra if they feel like it, can afford it, etc. I'm not into this thing about paying a share of an $100 detail job for the car, though helping to wash and vacuum someone's car would be totally cool and very much appreciated.

I think everyone should keep in mind that a passenger's most important contribution is human company for the drive, and offering to do some driving. If this is Burning Man, then it's not about the money.

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A personal opinon on R/Vs (and not meant to insult anyone, and I respect other people's opinions): I would discourage all burners from using any vehicles that did not deliver very high passenger-miles per gallon. You will *not* get any environmentalist karma points if you put two people into the biggest truck or R/V you can rent. I also note that R/Vs are among the most wasteful vehicles gas-wise (significantly worse than small pickups), make the most pollution, etc. Remember our country is currently in a petro-war, people are really dying over there for our gasoline.

In addition, if you're going to stay in your insulated, air-conditioned R/V, I personally think you are missing a lot of the BRC experience. Rent the video instead, it's even cleaner and more convenient. BMan is supposed to be very, very, very inconvenient. ANd dusty and hot. Really really dusty and hot. Leave the R/V bring the sheik's tent or the dome or ...

What about me? I'm doing my best to stuff 3 people into my small economy car. It will be nuts. And therefore pretty consistent with the whole thing, I think.

Lots of environmental karma to all. Have a great time. Have a safe ride up and back, and make new friends.

-BruceThePirate

[unjonharley]

Same stuff for the rider. I offered a ride and hual stuff for 1/3 of the gas.$50. Boy, some one snaped that right up. Tried to contact the rider. Oh they found another ride.Dd'nt I get there Email. So some one that needs a ride is out of luck at this late date.