COLUMBUS, Ohio — Nothing kills the excitement of a day at Cedar Point faster than learning that your must-ride coaster isn’t operating.
It’s frustrating and annoying, but does this mean the government should mandate that theme parks post real-time ride information online?
Sean Brennan, a Democratic state representative from Parma, believes so.
“Families spend hundreds of dollars and travel across the state to visit these parks,” Brennan said in an announcement. “They deserve accurate, real-time information so they can plan their day and avoid the frustration of walking across the park to find a ride shut down.”
His proposed bill would require amusement parks to post the status of their rides on their official apps or websites, and to update this information within five minutes of a ride closing or reopening.
“This is a commonsense consumer protection measure,” Brennan explained. “Just like we expect real-time updates from public transportation or airports, parkgoers should be able to know which rides are operating before getting in line — or before leaving home.”
Cedar Point’s mobile app displays ride wait times, but only after you create an account and enter personal information such as your email address and birthdate. The app also restricts that feature to park visitors; you cannot check wait times from home.
“That’s not helpful,” Brennan replied.
Third-party apps, such as Ride Wait Times, post wait times and ride closures without requiring sign-ups, but their accuracy has received mixed reviews.
According to Brennan, theme parks already collect this information, and his bill “simply makes that data publicly visible in a timely and consistent way.”
Cleveland.com contacted Six Flags, which owns Kings Island and Cedar Point, for comment.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture, which oversees amusement ride safety inspections, would enforce the regulations. Parks that do not comply may face civil fines.
Brennan stated that his bill would not apply to temporary amusement parks, such as carnivals or county fair midways.
Instead, it would apply to rides that “remain a lasting part of the premises” as defined by Ohio Revised Code.
When asked if these requirements would be too burdensome for smaller parks like Cleveland’s Memphis Kiddie Park, Brennan said he’s willing to consider exemptions if a good case can be made. He isn’t looking to “beat up” theme parks.
“I think this is mutually beneficial,” Brennan said. “I think it’s going to provide a better customer experience.”
He becomes irritated when he arrives at the park only to discover that Millennium Force or Siren’s Curse is not in operation. And believes that parks should remain silent because once inside, you will most likely spend the entire day there.
As for whether the government should be telling theme parks how to run their rollercoasters, Brennan says that when it comes to protecting consumers, the answer is always yes.
“We might not need a government regulation if they just do the right thing,” said the minister.
If passed, this law would go into effect one year later, giving parks enough time to implement the necessary systems.
