restraints

Don't you think that it's time that ride manufacturers should improve on the often movement restricting and sometimes uncomfortable OSTR's? Newer rides should feature 5 point harnesses similar to those found in race cars. Not only would this be more comfortable and give more freedom of movement, but would also virtually eliminate headbanging.

And it would take forever to load a train, since your average guest can't handle one seat belt, much less a 5-point harness.

:) Having worked roller coasters -- those even without seatbelts -- that is so true. Newer restraints are more comfortable, and to revamp the hundreds of coasters in existence in the United States alone would take more money than I'd care to imagine. Maybe we will see some variation, however, that allows for more comfort, so long as it can be adapted to the widely varied sizes and shapes of riders.

SquishyMon, (a Blogurt fan, perhaps?) you're half right. It's time to improve on ride restraints, and in particular to eliminate shoulder bars.

I can't say that I agree with your solution, though.

Did you ride a Flight of Fear coaster in 2001? That's one solution I could advocate...!

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Dave is on the right track.  Premier has made a big step forward with their new restraints.  Hopefully, we will see more of this in the future.

Five point harnesses would be unworkable for all practical purposes.  Can you imagine ride ops having to check crotch straps?

Hopefully, the government won't pick up on Safer Parks latest idea that all rides need to accomadate everyone from new borns to 400 pounders.  Sorry, but there are limits to practical restraint design.  Manufacturers just have to define clearly what the limits of their restraint designs are, and parks then have to exclude people from riding who are outside those limits. Of course, a few big boy seats such as B&M has aren't a bad idea.

Jim, I disagree, the whole idea of a "big boy" seat makes little sense to me. I've never seen the case when they will remove a smaller rider from one of these seats because they are improperly restrained. Indeed since the harness ratches all the way down, anyone who meets the height requirement can ride even in these seats irrespective of their lack of girth. So my question becomes this, why not craft all the seats like this?

Oh I know the answers I'll get: not as cost effective, would delay dispatch and reduce capacity, not that many big people riding at once so unneeded. But the truth of the matter is that this is allowed because it's still "Okay" in some respects to alienate fat people. Yeah, just stick 'em in the middle. If they want to ride in the front or back, hit the gym fat ass! And that's just not right.

So I say if you *can* do it, do it across the board. Otherwise, dont do it at all.
jeremy
--skinny as a rail

Actually, the flexible restraints on X-Flight (and I presume Stealth and Batwing) are very similar to racing 4-point harnesses. The only difference is the lack (thank goodness) of the fifth belt in-between your legs. I found them to be quite comfortable, and think they would be quite nice on a non-Flying Dutchman type ride.

Later,
EV
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"Just remember, wherever you go, there you are." - Buckaroo Banzai

X-Flights restraints are part of the reason for slow loading times.  I wish the queue was indoors and had tv's to show you how to put on your restraint and clip it on like flight attendants do on an airplane.  SFWoA runs that ride so pathetically(is that a word?).  There are some things they can do that would make that ride dispatch left and right, literally. 

OTSR's suck if you're tall.  But thats life and I deal with it no matter how painful or unpleasant it may be.

2HostyL:

You make an excellent point.  On the flip side, I must admit that I've wondered at times about the fact that I have never seen a park set any alternate minimum size for the Big Boy seats.

The Skyscraper upcharge attraction does have 5-point harnesses (I believe) and it did take the attendants a while to check them and make sure they were secure. It would be highly unrealistic capacity-wise to have these on any roller coaster.

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Batwing-Bow Down

I think the best solution would be to stick to lapbars and the new arrow butterfly restraints.  Then there would be no headbanging and everyone will have the opportunity to put their hands up.  Also the butterfly restraint would be easier for the GP to handle unlike a 5 point harness.  Also the capacity wouldn't suffer very much.
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Aren't the restraints on X a soulution?

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CoasterDude316, that's what coaster895 is talking about.  X's restraints are called 'butterfly' restraints.  If they safely secure you for a ride on X, what couldn't the be used for?  I think most normal loopers don't need anything more than lapbars, except I don't see it working on B&M trains (but they're generally not a problem).  But those new Arrow retraints definately appear to be a step forward from the OTSR (hopefully the OTSR will soon go the way of the dinosaur).