vehicles on site during the festival "to be or not to be"
So we are keen to reduce vehicle activity on site during the festival i.e. Tuesday morning until Monday. This is because:
1) the main road through the site this year is the promenade for theme camps and where everyone will be walking (the promenade has been moved because last year there was two much damage to the grass)
2) reducing or not allowing vehicle traffic is safer and in line with how most festival events are run
3) the site owners do not want lots of vehicle traffic on site
To be clear, vehicles can drive in and out of free camping at the top of the site as much as they like whenever they like. The restriction applied only for driving down the hill into the main site.
Saying no vehicle on site at all during the event is probably not feasible - so what is the middle way?
Let's get down to some constructive problem solving and come up with a solution
proposed solutions so far
1) an on site vehicle pass for theme camps dropping off supplies or equipment and people with accessibility needs
2) a shuttle van making trips from the free camping area to the main site
3) a shuttle cart
4) drive wherever the fuck you like and hope you run over some children while you're at it
5) Unfortunately PETA got wind of our donkey solution and convinced the donkey's to go on strike - nooooo :(
The poll to the right has some options for people to vote on, plus the option to add new ideas.
Decisions need to be reached by 29th of April not later
Lozmatron Wed 24 Apr 2019 7:50AM
My issue with the vehicle pass is that it would need to be rangered. People took the Mickey with that a bit last year and were driving onsite too quickly, without hazard lights and without being marshalled...
Yon Wed 24 Apr 2019 8:33AM
Last year it was fine. This year will be to.
Keep vehicles at the edge of site. Let camps organise their own solutions to transport their supplies. It's like a 4 minute walk with a barrow or a crew of people holding stuff.
It's pretty easy to do. We're camping in an english country garden (literally), this mildest of discomforts will only serve to strengthen us and build character.
(of course those with accessibility challenges should have a pass)
Camp Dad - Dead Insides Wed 24 Apr 2019 9:07AM
I think the key thing for most of the theme camps here is the cut off date of Tuesday morning. Whilst I understand that this is the official start of the festival, a number of camps have already stated that they will not be on site before Tuesday. People have limitations with leave from work, or logistical issues, or just plain not having enough camp members on site for build.
Speaking for the Dead Insides, the earliest any of us are able to be on site is Tuesday afternoon, and even then it's only 2 of us (3 if you count a baby who will require one adult handler at all times...essentially bringing us down to 1 adult capable of carrying camp equipment).
We are unlikely to have our venue built before Wednesday at the earliest and the idea of carrying the heavy infrastructure for our venue by hand (or even handcart) from the edge of site to our allocated build site is far from appealing...and frankly impossible for one person to do!
I fully agree with the idea of keeping vehicles off site once camps are built (barring accessibility needs), but maybe a later day in the week would be a better solution. Is it worth checking with camp leads to see when they expect to have infrastructure on site and working with that information to come up with a new cut-off?
As with any other burn, vehicles on site should drive no faster than 5mph and have their hazard lights on, something that anyone driving a vehicle past gate should be informed of.
Allan Hainey Wed 24 Apr 2019 9:50AM
Alternatively if the promonade part is now on the road can a vehicle going down to theme camps not just drive along over the grass where the Zokalo was last year?
Tell people not to just drive in each others tyre treads to keep grass damage to a minimum & limit the number of vehicles. That'd be effectively round the back of the camps so should be minimal pedestrians & it is vehicle accessible, if a bit bumpy.
Martin Evans Thu 25 Apr 2019 6:58AM
I took a couple of attempts getting my van up and down the hill on the grass, with quite a few skids. Worse when wet.
Corinne Hitching Thu 25 Apr 2019 7:14AM
There was a well marked road loop until Wednesday/Thurs when it was shut off for the shenanigans to begin at Kiwi burn. Can a loop be marked out? It required a traffic lead though
Hilda Breakspear Wed 24 Apr 2019 10:44AM
Vehicle pass but with someone walking in front of the vehicle to ensure that the path is clear.
Martin Evans Thu 25 Apr 2019 6:56AM
Another option, as vehicles find it difficult passing each other on the road: a one-way circuit. In at the top end, out by the manor. People on the road have the right-of way, so vehicles can only travel as fast as people (that's about 2.5 - 3.5mph)
N Petz Thu 25 Apr 2019 6:23PM
I think the cut off we had Wed/Thur last year with vehicles travelling at a limited speed (2/3mph) which worked wonderfully. Could we not do this again?
Lozmatron · Wed 24 Apr 2019 7:47AM
Last year we had the gater which was used for this purpose. We could do that again and have it marshalled by rangers in hi vis?