TL;DR: Leave the e-motorcycles, fat-tire scooters, and seated electric scooters at home; they are strictly disallowed in Black Rock City. If you attempt to bring a disallowed vehicle through the Gate, it will be turned away. Any disallowed vehicle caught operating inside the city will be promptly ejected. Before you pack your ride, double-check the official vehicle rules webpage to make sure it’s actually allowed. Don’t buy into those flashy social media ads or “camp delivery” scams claiming a vehicle is “perfect for Burning Man.” Those companies are trying to profit off Burning Man and sell you gear you can’t even use.
Pack all the things! Naturally you’re excited to get out into the dust, to unplug and then connect in so many unique and meaningful ways. A vast playground awaits, one where you can roll up your sleeves, find your humans, and find joy and purpose through participatory creativity.
But wait! Before you figure out your trusty playa bike, please do read this important message from your friendly Black Rock City Department of Mutant Vehicles (DMV). It could mean the difference between blissfully enjoying your bike or e-bike all week, or wandering the city on foot because your vehicle was turned away when you arrived at the Gate.
BRC has always been — and will always be — primarily a pedestrian and bicycle city. Its streets are designed for walking, pedaling, and catching a serendipitous ride on a mutant vehicle.
Over the past few years, the DMV and event operations have encountered a growing problem with participants bringing disallowed Personal Transportation Vehicles (PTVs) — particularly seated electric scooters, fat-tire scooters, and e-motorcycles — to the playa.
Burning Man is Not a Showroom
This problem is being fueled by certain scooter and e-motorcycle manufacturers and vendors using social media to aggressively advertise their products as “perfect for Burning Man.” Not only do these promotions blatantly conflict with Decommodification (don’t use the culture to sell your stuff!), they also spread false information. Just because a targeted ad implies a vehicle belongs on the playa doesn’t mean it actually is allowed in Black Rock City.
To make matters worse, some of these companies are offering “concierge” services to deliver unpermitted vehicles directly to theme camps in Black Rock City. Let’s be crystal clear: Black Rock City is a decommodified space, not a commercial fulfillment zone. Third-party businesses setting up delivery operations inside the city undermines the spirit of the community. They’re also in violation of federal regulations; in other words, what they’re doing is illegal.
When businesses use Burning Man imagery or promise “turnkey” playa transportation, they are exploiting the culture for profit. Worse, they leave you holding the bag (and a very expensive receipt) when the Gate turns your new ride away. Please do not support vendors that are trying to commodify the dust, and don’t get scammed into buying or renting gear that isn’t allowed in the city.
So, What Is Allowed?
Human-powered bikes, Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes, Onewheels, hoverboards, and true stand-up scooters (meaning strictly NO SEAT, a motor under 800 watts, wheels 10″ or smaller, and weighing under 40 lbs)
What is Absolutely Not Allowed?
Larger stand-up scooters, fat-tire scooters, seated scooters, gas-powered bicycles, ATVs, mopeds, and e-motorcycles, in fact, any bike with no pedals (except as a pre-registered Accessibility Vehicle).
If you are found trying to bring a disallowed vehicle into Black Rock City, the Gate will not allow the vehicle into the event. Your options will be to either: take the vehicle off playa, or to leave it in the unsecured D-lot just outside the event while you’re in Black Rock City. If a disallowed PTV is found being driven inside the city, the vehicle (and potentially the driver) will be ejected from the event.
Why Slower Is Better
Why does the DMV and Law Enforcement heavily restrict driving and strictly enforce a 5 mph speed limit everywhere in BRC? Because slower is safer… and better. In recent years, Emergency Medical Services have dealt with a growing number of injuries caused by e-bikes traveling faster than 5 mph. Participants are sustaining serious injuries, all because a cyclist decided to ride at an unsafe speed.
Immediacy is often better served by taking it slow. If you go too fast, you miss many of Black Rock City’s hidden wonders: the whimsical treasures of the backstreets, understated art, spontaneous new friendships, and things too small to see when going fast.
Please leave the disallowed scooters and e-motorcycles at home. Embrace the pedal, appreciate the stroll, and remember to stop, get off, and explore. Slowing down isn’t only about safety; it’s about cultivating the very magic that makes Black Rock City so special. Let’s enjoy Black Rock City at the speed of connection.
For a comprehensive list of exactly what you can and cannot bring, please study the vehicle rules webpage before you pack.
Now get back to your Black Rock City planning and dreaming, whatever that means for you. The magic won’t find you on a speeding e-bike, but it will make its presence known when you embrace the levity and Immediacy of unanticipated moments, challenges, and spontaneous encounters.
Cover image: Photo by Espressobuzz
“disallow” is doublespeak, just say “banned” to be honest and forthright about what you are doing.
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Thanks for the feedback!
I appreciate your perspective, but “disallowed” literally just means “not allowed”—there was no intention to obscure or soften the point. As a big fan of William Lutz’s work on doublespeak, I definitely strive for clear, transparent language. While “banned” is certainly a valid synonym, “disallowed” was meant in the exact same literal spirit.
-Chef Juke
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So I guess this crazy fun Antic bike with all the crazy LED and the small Cooler for free gifting ice cream bar will have to stay home…
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You can always try to register as a Mutant Vehicle.
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If it doesn’t have pedals, don’t bring it.
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It’s cool to follow the rules.
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Good. The E-bike challenge is not just on Playa. Many communities have found themselves cursed by mostly young people who seem to believe there are no rules to how and where E-bikes and E-cycles may be ridden. They are not an exception to the rule of being careful and using common sense. Why race through Burning Man? Would you race through the Louvre? Go slow and enjoy the ride.
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We are an art support camp and we have electrical tricycles, like a small electrical rickshaw.
With the art support pass, is it allowed to be on playa with that electrical rickshaw? Goes without saying that we stay under the allowed speed limit.
Thank you
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Regular bikes can’t be beat. They hold up much better, are more reliable, give you some movement in your body, and are powered by weed and pancakes.
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Let’s not forget about the now infamous “zipper” crew that has over 500 members placed in camps throughout the city. They are actively tracking speeding ebikes and disabling them one way or another.
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Why not just ban all e-bikes of any kind? Only pedal bikes should be allowed. Can’t tell you how many times I almost got ran over by e-bike gangs last year! Scary!
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While they are permitted, please keep in mind onewheels at dangerous! Ride them with caution. Been there done that.
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I support this policy. It was out of hand last year. Some of these vehicles can reach speeds which can be deadly. The impulse to drive fast on open playa, coupled with impaired driving (let’s be honest) is a disaster waiting to happen. I love the freedom of Burning Man, but unfortunately some people make poor decisions and mess it up for everyone.
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