Find this year’s BRC map here.
For the last year I’ve been working with Burning Man assisting with their future move to a headquarters that they’ll own. My job has been primarily to consult with the potential complications with buildings that they’re considering purchasing but also to assist in providing preliminary floor plans.
One of the guys at my office said I had permission and encouraged me to pitch ideas to Larry Harvey, the founder of Burning Man. I took this opportunity on three ocassions. I wrote about one here.
One of the ideas started last year in a plane flying above the city with Julie Wentz. Her partner Mike and she skydive over the city every year. They very generously gifted us the opportunity to fly over the city. During our flight, Mike mentioned how the constant drone of dust came from the entry gate vehicles. Lauren and I were immediately thinking, move the damn gates! WTF?
So through my day job, I had the opportunity to pitch the idea to Larry, Mariom, and I think Harley too. No one bit on the idea during our talks but about a week ago this came out in Volume 14, Issue 19 of the Jack Rabbit Speaks. Maybe we played a small part in making BRC a little less dusty this year.
GATE ROAD 2010 REORIENTED TO REDUCE DUST IN BLACK ROCK CITY
One of the main causes of some persistent dust blowing through Black Rock City is that which is kicked up by cars traveling Gate Road (the road from Highway 34, through the Gate, and on to the Greeters’ Station). Since Gate Road is traditionally aligned such that it aims directly at the 6:00 radial arm of Black Rock City, the prevailing wind (from the southwest) usually carries all the dust right through the heart of the city.
In an experiment to reduce the amount of dust in BRC, the Black Rock City Planning Department has reoriented Gate Road such that the prevailing winds will carry the dust alongside, rather than through, Black Rock City.
It should be noted that Mother Nature has a long and storied history of being as unpredictable as all get-out there on the Black Rock Desert, and the concept of “prevailing winds” is dubious at best. It should also be noted that you shouldn’t expect a miraculous, dust-free year in Black Rock City, because that would be dreaming hard. Bring your all-weather gear; there’s dust at Burning Man.
And remember, no matter which way it’s oriented, always always ALWAYS observe the 10mph speed limit on Gate Road, and 5mph when approaching the Gate and Greeters’ Station. This, too, helps keep down the dust in BRC, and for a vehicle driven in a pedestrian city, it’s the safest practice all around.