When should "Rides and Room Sharing" be opened?

[TheCotMan]

After seeing other people try to plan rides and room sharing for other cons in the forum, "Local Meetings & Other Events," I realized that my view of it may be short-sighted. Maybe the community has a different point of view.

I'd like to hear your thoughts on this.

I/we set the time for Rides and Room sharing forum to be open about 2 months before Defcon. This was because only a small percent of people willing to share, or looking to share rooms reliably plan more than 2 months in advance.

Is this a good idea?

Should we leave it open all of the time, so Defcon people can use it to plan ride and room sharing to other conferences, at the cost of failed sharing by flaky people?

Is its purpose obsoleted by people attending DCG to get to know people in person before attending Defcon?

Should it be opened sooner? Later?

Your thoughts and opinions on this count, as we approach Defcon, and the time to open up that forum draws near.

[theprez98]

Re: When should "Rides and Room Sharing" be opened?

I think 2 months for the general forum is plenty of time.

[krma]

Re: When should "Rides and Room Sharing" be opened?

Timing last year seemed good to me,

as soon as I saw the hotel/room link on the main defcon page with the special prices for defcon, I booked my room(it was april or very early may)

That is when I would of also started looking into room sharing.

I have the same plan for this year, when room rates for defcon are released i'll book my room straight away.

[astcell]

Re: When should "Rides and Room Sharing" be opened?

Too early and plans change for folks.

[sintax_error]

Re: When should "Rides and Room Sharing" be opened?

...This was because only a small percent of people willing to share, or looking to share rooms reliably plan more than 2 months in advance.

Right on the head. I've always started planning pretty much the day after the con ends, and that far in advance, there hasn't been a single year that at least 3 to 5 people out of groups of sometimes 10 or more haven't flaked or had plans change. 2 months seems to be a reasonable "let's get our asses in gear and really plan this out" timeframe.

[jchillerup]

Re: When should "Rides and Room Sharing" be opened?

Coming from Europe, I'd like to have all my preparations (hotel, do-I-need-to-rent-a-car?, conference ticket, plane ticket) done as early as possible. As if the hassle to even enter the country wasn't big enough (*). I think two months in advance somewhat little, especially for people like me.


*) For those who don't know, you need to apply for something called an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization), that, on arrival to the US, allows the customs to take my photo, fingerprints and have me in for a interrogation if they see fit (or if I'm looking too Middle-Eastern...) They can deny me entry to the US for any reason and I'll have to pay for the return ticket myself; this, of course, with no way to appeal. </rant>