How come no single riders in the back of coasters?

When I was at SFMM recently I was on Viper and I was in the last seat by myself. But the ride-ops told me that I couldn't ride in the back by myself. So my question is why is that? When I was at SFMM that day I also noticed that that happened on a couple of other coasters to.

P.S. Sorry if I posted this topic twice but the first time I posted it I didn't see it in the General Buzz section.

*** This post was edited by SFMM 4 Ever on 9/4/2001. ***

There seems to be some kind of safety thing. They think that if there are two riders in the back, and there were to be some kind of freak accident where one of the riders in the back row were to be injured, the 2nd rider would be able to be held as a witness as to what had happened because everyone else in the train can't see the back row car.

Common, are you making that up?

No, I'm not. And it's come on, not common.

kRaX is correct, I remember that policy from awhile ago in pther parks (SFGAdv mine ride when I was a kid, Kennywood not too long ago). KW also maintains that policy for ALL seats on T-Bolt (not sure about Racer, JR, or PR) because of the heavy laterals without major restraints...and some folks wonder why we love Kennywood! Insurance companies...I think I remember someplace where back seat riders had to be of a certain age as well...

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rollergator - intent on improving the "guest experience" - coming soon to a park near you

Is it a safety issue or just a capacity issue?

With the exception of Thunderbolt at Kennywood, I have ridden many two seater coasters in back and in front "single". I do know at Hersheypark on all of their coasters (with the exception of Great Bear) there are signs that say "Single riders load from the middle of the train".

Safety issue or just not wanting to send trains away with the most popular seats only "half full"?
Personally, I vote for "capacity".

(I can see Kennywood and T-bolt though... bench seats and heavy latterals will throw a single rider around like crazy... and they enforce this policy on the entire train, not just first or last seats.)

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"I wasn't always this cynical, but then I started kindergarden..."

*** This post was edited by SLFAKE on 9/4/2001. ***

Sorry kRaX didnt have a dictionary in front of me. You knew what I was talking about. I've ridden Viper in the back alone, maybe they were just being d*cks that day.

I have been told that you have to have 2 in the back of Viper numerous times. Usually I go with my brother, my friend, and then me. They always say that we need 2 in the last row, but my brother and I can't fit due to leg room issues. Therefore, one of the ride ops gets in the back with my friend, and everything is fine.

I have riden about 6 coasters in the back by myself, and I hope I can keep on doing it!
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Ricochet: Bouncing to you in 2002, Only at King's Dominion!

Coasters I've ridden "in the back seat" single (only me, no other rider):

Hersheypark:
Comet (Divider, single position lap bar, before seat belts)
Wild Cat (Divider, indiv Ratchet Lap bars, belts)
sooperdooperlooper (bucket seat, indiv ratchet bars)

Lakemont:
Skyliner (bench seat, single position lap bar... tons of air)

Williams Grove:
Cyclone (bench, single position lap bar, seat belt)

SFA:
Roar (divider, indiv ratchet lap bar,seat belts)

BGT:
Gwasi (divider, indiv ratchet lap bar, seat belts)

Morey's Piers:
Great White (Divider, indiv ratchet lap bar, seat belts)
Great Nor'Easter: (indiv seat, OTSR)

Knoebels:
Phoenix (divider, 1 positon lab bar)
Twister (divider, indiv ratchet lap bar, belts???)

All of these parks, while some may have signs saying "single riders load from the middle" do not "enforce" it. I still believe that it is just the policy of the park... most popular seats won't go out half empty.

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"I wasn't always this cynical, but then I started kindergarden..."

Last time I was at SFMM, I rode Viper all by my lonesome. Perhaps they were just being testy that day? I imagine the reason for that particular policy might stem back to the days when that overweight woman was killed on Colossus. She was practically forced in the back seat (by herself), and not secured properly. When the coaster came in, nobody realized that she had been ejected on the old double down. A pretty good reason to ensure safety, if you ask me.
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;)More about me?;)
www.geocities.com/ethylsite

No one knew? Dang thats creepy.

Everycoaster at Six Flags Great America used to have this rule, but I have noticed about the past 3-4 years they haven't done it at all. I have even noticed the signs that used to say that have been removed.
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SFGAdv has always had this rule. It's SF Inc crap, basically. Let me go to CP and ride any ride I want alon in the back. That's one reason I dislike SF.
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Gone, a sense of confidence, I'm convinced that there's just too much pressure to take! - Linkin Park, Crawling
KoЯn still Яules!

*** This post was edited by Coaster131 on 9/4/2001. ***

I rode Gwazi in the back seat by myself.
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Nitro: The Most Explosive Coaster on the Planet explodes at Six Flags Great Adventure in 2001.

*** This post was edited by NitroExplodes on 9/5/2001. ***

I'd vote for it being a capacity issue too, same as with the front seat (I've heard of the rule being enforced there too). But I wouldn't doubt that it's a safety/liability issue as well; that does make a lot of sense.

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Po!nt of View: A different look at Roller Coasters.
http://www.crosswinds.net/~justmayntz/thrills/

It was a Six Flags policy that there had to be at least two riders in the last occupied row of the train, allegedly for some kind of nebulous liability reason. Some years ago, after Premier Parks took over, somebody realized that the rule was just plain silly (particularly on rides with headrests) and I believe it was officially abolished. Thing is, apparently nobody told the ride operators, and the result is that some will enforce a "no singles in the back" rule and some will not...it now varies from park to park, coaster to coaster, crew to crew. I first encountered it at Kentucky Kingdom on, of all things, the Roller Skater, when it was being operated by a crew from SFoMA (St. Louis). That's the ONLY time I've been forced to double up in the back seat at Kentucky Kingdom on ANY coaster.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Nitro, Gwazi may not be dueling right now, but BGT has NEVER enforced this rule to the best of my knowledge. Enjoy your airtime-filled ride on Lion or Tiger!
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rollergator - intent on improving the "guest experience" - coming soon to a park near you

On Rampage at Visionland they have an odd rule. Tallest person has to get in the car first. Does anyone know why they would do that? I don't see why it would matter.

Sorry, I meant I did ride it by myself. And I did it when it was duelling. It was incredible, but the front is better for the duelling effect.
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Nitro: The Most Explosive Coaster on the Planet explodes at Six Flags Great Adventure in 2001.