Burning Man’s Yellow Bike Program Returns!
Burning Man's Yellow Bikes (photo credit: Danger Ranger)
Thanks to a generous donation from an anonymous benefactor, the Burning Man Project is able to offer a Yellow Community Bike program during Burning Man. Yep, a fleet of over 1,000 bikes are made available for participants to borrow for one-time, one-way, no-guarantees use. These bikes are painted green (ironically), say “Yellow Bike” on them, and can be found spread throughout Black Rock City.
The system works if and only if everybody adheres to the guidelines for Community Bike use. Which are:
- Community Bikes are for temporary use by anyone without immediate access to their own bike. This is not YOUR loaner bike for the week. Bike rides are only a one-way, temporary guarantee.
- If a Community Bike breaks while you’re using it, use Radical Self-Reliance to get it repaired for the next person. Check with Playa Info at Center Camp for a repair camp if you can’t Do-It-Yourself (DIY).
- NEVER LOCK A COMMUNITY BIKE. The bike camp team will cut any locks from community bikes. Don’t bring a Community Bike into your tent or RV, and don’t take it home when you leave the playa.
- Community Bikes are meant for short trips. Grab a community bike, make your trek, and then drop it off where you found it, or leave it in an obvious public place. Do not keep a community bike in your camp.
- Community Bikes should be treated with respect, as if it was your own. Be nice to the bike. Don’t trash it, vandalize it or part it out! It’s a shared community resource. And don’t forget personal hygiene … pants are required while riding a community bike.
It requires community cooperation to keep this resource alive for all to enjoy. So spread the word!
For more information about bikes at Burning Man, see the Bikes page in our Survival Guide.
RSS for this entry's comments
Tags: bikes, community resource, yellow bikes
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
August 7th, 2009 at 11:27 am
wow this is soooo awesome! i’d love to give that donor a big hug and a kiss! as a bicycle advocate who is always struggling to get bike between the legs of those who’d like to ride, our Burner community is so fortunate to be blessed with this program!
Report this comment
August 7th, 2009 at 11:36 am
[...] tags: bike loaner programs, bikes at Burning Man, how to create a bike culture by art predator Burning Man’s Yellow Bike Program Returns! Burning Man’s Yellow Bikes (photo credit: Danger Ranger) The Burning Man blog [...]
Report this comment
August 7th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
This idea rocks!
Wish I was goin!
Report this comment
August 7th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
“NEVER LOCK A COMMUNITY BIKE”
Damn right! There’s a whole fleet of battery operated angle grinders that are always hungry.
Report this comment
August 7th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
WOW, what a lovely thing…..a great big fucking MAHALO for that, you beautiful nameless one, look how much effective good was just spread so quickly !!!! , I know every lovely burner would do the same if they could !!!!!!! EVOLUTION- fuck YEAH!
Report this comment
August 8th, 2009 at 11:36 pm
[...] COMMUNITY BIKES Share and share alike: http://blog.burningman.com/?p=4488 [...]
Report this comment
August 15th, 2009 at 2:22 am
Oh, please, please, please…I hope these precious bicycles are revered as the wonderful gift they are to the degree that there will be bicycles for borrowing in 2010. I can’t make it this year; it just occurred to me half an hour ago that I should attend to celebrate the shaking off of my ego and making the right choice from the Being of my Higher Self. That Self (at age 46) stopped driving a gas-guzzling van (gave it away) and rides only a huge Cadillac of a cruiser bicycle. Heavy to transport, but a breeze to ride and a joy to look at with its message of Peace and Buddha on the handlebars. It has been an integral part of my transformation. I simply must attend Burning Man next year. Alas and alack that it’s too late this year. :(
Pink bicycles would be a lovely touch, I think. ;)
Report this comment
September 3rd, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Cool site, love the info.
Report this comment
July 28th, 2010 at 9:06 am
Is there a way for folks to get involved with maintenance, distribution or whatever,etc etc? Community bikes should be everywhere.
Report this comment
September 2nd, 2010 at 8:39 pm
LeafyBranch — google for “yellow bike {whatever city you live in}” … not all cities have such a program, but many do. (Austin, where I live, does.)
Report this comment
September 3rd, 2010 at 7:47 am
[...] Girling shot a great photo of The BRC Yellow Bike Works bicycle tag at Burning Man reminding riders to wear [...]
Report this comment
September 6th, 2010 at 10:39 am
It is rather interesting for me to read the blog. Thank you for it. I like such topics and everything connected to them. I definitely want to read a bit more soon. By the way, pretty nice design you have at that blog, but what do you think about changing it every few months?
Katherine Smith
escort girls uk
Report this comment
May 27th, 2011 at 12:25 pm
[...] Yellow Bikes that somehow get hidden/hoarded by non-community minded folks. See more details on http://blog.burningman.com/news/…This answer .Please specify the necessary improvements. Edit Link Text Show answer summary [...]
Report this comment
August 9th, 2011 at 1:58 am
[...] scrambling and don’t have a bike, fret not. Bike resources abound HERE or search out for the Burning Man Yellow Bike. Worst case, you may just have to pimp your willy for a [...]
Report this comment