Sky Ride

If the cable on sky ride were to break, what would happen?

I think of that everytime I ride or walk directly under it, but haven't come up with an answer. The image in my head is one of mass chaos, the cars falling down onto the midway. A bit disturbing, but I'm sure highly unlikely. The Sky Ride has to get the same thorough inspections that the coasters do. I'm sure there's a back-up plan for the cable. If not, I'd rather not know...

Well they do have that one car sitting under the sky ride during Halloweekends. I just hope it never happens.

I always wonder that myself rode it once and was just thinking if the cable broke. People would be hurt which you figure and the cars will be in the midway.

Seeing as how they just recently replaced the Cable, they are obviously doing their routine inspections of the ride. Why even start a thread like this? Something like that happening would have to be a freak accident or sabotage.

It would be almost as logical as asking, what if Top Thrill Dragster fell over.

There would obviously be guests panicing and running for their lives. Guests would possibly get hurt and the park would probably close pending the results of an investigation into the matter.

If you want an example what might happen, just look at the thread on Coasterbuzz talking about the ride in Japan that just had an axle break.

Jason Hammond said:Why even start a thread like this?

I think it's a valid question. We all know what happens during e-stops of rides and what would happen if a wheel/axle falls off a coaster.

I'm sure there's SOME safety provision for a snapped cable on that ride. I'd actually be interested to know what it is.

I'd doubt there's a safety provision as much as there are emergency response procedures. Unless there is some kind of friction clamp that snaps into place like when an elevator falls.

I remember this coming up when they were replacing the cable a year ago. Someone looked into the news and there is no such accident in history of a cable lift (ski lifts included) that ever snapped like one would think.

I believe there's a system in place that has the cable go through some type of sensor and if that sensor detects some kind of fracture, the ride shuts down.

While it's not always the most comforting thing to know you are literally hanging from a single cable, that cable is much much stronger than what the cabins put on it.

I'd be more worried about those wheel chassises on all the roller coasters.

I worry about the biggest wheel at the park - Giant Wheel. :) That thing freaks me out. Then again, all Ferris wheels do.

Im right there with you. I'll ride coasters as tall and fast as they make them, but I have no interest in riding the Big Wheel.

I still get nervous on SkyRide. I'm always so happy when we pull into the station.

Whew.

That was hard to admit.

^^I'm in agreement about ferris wheels. I'll ride any coaster, any day, but even the small ferris wheels freak me out. The thought of getting on the Giant Wheel nearly makes me sick. I don't understand why, they just terrify me.

I'm scared on rides that don't have a personal safety system, like a lapbar or something. Seatbelts, like on Giant Wheel, just aren't enough for me, and Sky Ride doesn't have anything at all.

I always laugh everytime I ride the Giant Wheel and have to buckle my seatbelt. I do it because it is the rule, but I always wonder, if this car was to come loose and plummet from the top, how is this seatbelt going to help me? Seatbelts can save your life in an automobile. I'm just not sure if it will on the Giant Wheel.

The seatbelts on GW aren't to protect you in an accident, but to keep you in your seat while the ride is in normal operation. If you were to fall out, they can say "Well, he took his seat belt off and climbed out of the gondola. Its not our fault."

i got stuck on sky ride a few years ago for about a half our or so. When i was up there it started storming which i got soaked, and the wind had the car swayin pretty good. i hate to say it but i was terrified. When they finally got me to the end station they gave me a ticket for the exit ramp of any coaster.

There is a trip switch in both stations. The switch is right next to the cable and will trip when there is any fray in the cable.

In case of a power outage, there is a generator called a "volkswagon", that can start the cable up long enough to clear the ride. But only maintnance can use the volkswagon.

Hope this helps.

Yeah, being stuck up there in a storm would make me terrified as well.

As for the cable breaking - it's tightly wound so it wouldn't just 'cut' and snap. It'd fray, and there's little wires around the cable on each end of the station which will detect the fray and estop the ride.

It's honestly one of the more safe rides at Cedar Point. I would much more be scared of a certain launch cable snapping and recoiling in my face or sending metal shards.......

^ HA. We posted at the same time. ;) ^ *** Edited 5/21/2007 8:25:32 PM UTC by bholcomb***

You say CP's Sky Ride makes you nervous? Ha! Try the Sky Lift at Indiana Beach... its a bench, with a non locking bar that comes down from the side... And it never stops, you stand and wait for it to hit you in the back of the legs, and sit down and pull your bar down....

Great fun!

If the Sky Ride cable breaks, the cars take a plunge.

What are the chances of that happening? Pretty much nil. Not only is the cable incredibly durable and strong for what it has to do, but most lifts have cable fray detectors to find any problems. Sky Ride probably has it too.

You are just as safe on Sky Ride as you are crossing a bridge.

Its CP..they make many modifications on their rides..I doubt it would happen now..considering they replaced the cable a year ago also.