Smoking Policy Suggestion

My wife often has a pretty strong reaction to cigarette smoke when she encounters smokers in public often resulting in sinus issues and loss of her voice. She doesn’t have to be in a smoke filled room to experience these adverse effects. Just a few inhales in the crowded vicinity of a single smoker is enough to trigger several hours of a hoarse throat – so it becomes a bit frustrating to cross paths with so many people at Cedar Point who smoke throughout the park outside of designated areas. When these people are walking the same direction we are, it becomes virtually impossible to get away from the smoke even in moderate crowds. You are done with your cigarette in 2 minutes and no longer need your nicotine fix, but you've given my wife a reaction that will last her most of the evening.

They do make smoking announcements periodically over the loudspeakers, which I think are mostly ignored (or even more likely unheard -- just blending in as part of the background noise). I think a fair share of smokers may not even realize it is prohibited in the park outside of the designated areas. It’s the people who cup their hand around the cigarette in an obvious attempt to hide it (indicating that they likely know it is prohibited) that really make me angry. That and the ambivalence of enforcing the policy when infractions are observed by employees/security.

Busier days = more infractions. It was over this past busy weekend that a few thoughts hit me on the subject. Aside from the occasional smokers actively walking the midways, the biggest collection of active smokers not in designated areas is usually around the restrooms. This makes sense since that is a typical break location. There are already some restrooms with designated smoking areas nearby. Why not find a way to put a smoking area within X feet of each restroom (or 8 out of 10 restrooms – if 100% coverage is impractical), and put signs at all the restrooms stating the smoking policy and directing people to the closest smoking area?

While at the Main Midway station on the train over the weekend, I saw 8 or 10 smokers lined up along the wall between the men’s room and the front of the train exit gates. With a slight redirection of the train exit and a few well placed signs – that would be an ideal designated smoking area, near those restrooms. Like I said, I don’t know if it would be practical to find a place near EVERY bathroom, but if they at least managed to designate 75-80% and put up some well informed signs I think it would go a long way toward fixing the problem. There will always be some who ignore the rules (not just the smoking rules either), but I would bet this would greatly reduce violations.

I'm assuming you've made your suggestion to the park? I don't think there's anybody here to help you.

I am submitting it to the park yes.

1. The policy is enforced, security, ride ops, etc can be seen directing and advising this rule
   1. There is even a sheet of paper per ride location listing the nearest designated areas
2. The policy can't be harsh. Lets be real, most people don't read signs/follow directions in the park anyways. They may not know that this is a park wide rule. All we can really do is tell them you can't smoke here and ask them to go to the nearest area
3. Voicing this here won't solve anything. Thank you for submitting this to the park for review. Only they can implement changes when concerns are voiced

Rusty. As an occasional smoker, I always find myself in a designated area because I know cigarette smoke bothers quite a bit of people. However, there are a lot of inconsiderate people who don't take these into account when lighting up.

With that said, your ideas sound GREAT on paper...but there are so many signs posted throughout the park and many guests ignore them. Basically then don't come to the park to pay attention to any rules. A lot of them figure since they paid for parking and admission, once you're in the park, you can do whatever you want, anywhere you want. Just one example alone: I can't tell you how many signs are posted on each SkyRide station saying basketballs aren't allowed, yet I've seen many guests mad when they're told their basketball can't come on. People just don't pay attention to signs.

Does this mean every guest doesn't follow the rules? No. Does this mean every guest ignores signs in the park. No. Will it still help one or two guests a day be well informed where the nearest smoking area is so they know for next time? Maybe, and I hope that answer is yes!

If I ever do smoke, I personally like to enjoy my cigarette while sitting down. Quite frankly if you ask me, I know of 4 relaxing and beautiful smoking areas in the park (of course right next to Wicked Twister's front tower, the one over by Power Tower that has the new beautiful landscape behind it, and the one over by the old Paddlewheel queue [great views of Dragster over there by the way])

I have seen too many uniformed security officers pass smokers on the midway and not say anything to them. They should be required to stop the smoker, have them put the cigarette out and then direct them to the nearest smoking area.

This is a sore subject for me, too. Cigarette smoke bothers me immensely. I wish CF would adopt a policy similar to Six Flags -- smoking outside the designated area (marked off by a painted line, no less) constitutes immediate removal from the park, no warnings.

Any smoker in this day and age who visits a public venue knows damned well there are restrictions on where you can smoke. Hospitals and even some university campuses are entirely smoke-free. How a smoker can visit CP, which is private property, without the expectation of some restrictions is beyond me. Smokers who are that ignorant AND can't read signs deserve to get kicked out.

My 2c.

State law in Ohio prohibits smoking in any public place. Many visitors are from out of state and probably unaware of that law. But I do think more action needs to be taken against offenders.

There's also the guests that feel they don't need to listen to "those kids working the rides" when it comes to smoking. I can't tell you how many times over the past 2 seasons I've had smoke blown in my face and told to expletive off after approaching a guest smoking outside of a designated area

I think it's actually less of a smoking problem and more of a society full of people who care only about themselves these days problem. The rules don't apply to them and they don't care if it bothers you. I know where a ton of smoking areas are at the park and I don't even smoke. I think the people that can't find their way to them just don't care enough to bother looking.

Out of safety concerns I would like to suggest 'Basketball Dribbling Areas'

^If I could upvote the hell out of that I would

Rusty- It would seem the park is already doing exactly that. The smoking area behind the Magnum restrooms and on the former STR observation deck were new additions for this season. In my experience with asking smokers to relocate to a designated smoking area, most apologize and comply but a large number will just re-light it as soon as they get some distance away from us. Then as samosuband mentioned, there are those who will instead get confrontational over the matter.

Only 90's kids will remember when restaurants had smoking/non-smoking areas.

Only 80's and before kids remember when everywhere was the smoking section. As annoying as the stray smokers are I remember the line queues being filled with smoke and there's just no comparison in terms of annoying.

I always thought No Smoking Sections were a joke....the idea of a No-Smoking section at a restaurant was just as bad as a No-Peeing section in a pool

It never stayed separated...I don't want to breath in your smoke...and I don't want to swim in your Pee.

Times have changed for the better. Back in 1965 (a long time before I was born) 42% of the U.S. adult population smoked. Now the number of adults who smoke is nearing 15%. (Numbers per the CDC.)

As someone who suffers respiratory irritation from cigarette smoke, I appreciate it when parks enforce smoking areas. Some do better than others. Most parks do fairly well with enforcement. The only park that I give a failing score for enforcement is Kings Dominion.

Try riding in an airplane with a smoking section...I mean seriously, who ever thought that was a good idea. Now just you phone smokes on a plane.

This thread is stupid. What do you and your wife do when you walk around your block and pass someone else who is smoking? Or outside of Wallmart? I do see that there are people who don't abide by the rules. I will always abide by the rules unless the park is already closed and I am not going to bother other guests. But the smoking laws that the state has imposed only pertain to people who are working within a building and are exposed to 2nd hand smoke. It has to do with the dangers of long term exposure to 2nd hand smoke during your occupation. It is not a law that imposes penalties to smoking outdoors. There is no penalty under the current Ohio law that penalizes outdoor smoking.

With that being said it would be nice if everyone would respect each other enough to at least smoke in either a designated area or at least in an area where they didn't affect other people. If that is on a bench in an area not designated for smoking but nobody else was present then so be it. But to actually throw someone out of the park for smoking outside would probably not be within the parks best interest. I do not think you can go to Cedar Point and as a guest, police what other people do. As you are just a guest yourself.

With that being said I feel you pain. But what do you do when you aren't at Cedar Point and someone smokes outside. I could imagine the response if you told someone outdoors in a public environment that their smoking bothered you. They would probably not be very receptive. I would also wonder why you would be invading their space if it bothered you that much.

With that being said...

With that being said...

Just messing. But some people are sensitive and have lung probs. Noone should have to breathe in second hand smoke. I mean hell, I don't smoke really ever. I have a few cigars every year, that's it. When I have one I still stand downstream so noone else gets exposed.