Brooklyn, NY – Amusement rides on property owned by the developer planning to turn Coney Island into America’s biggest fairground are so dangerous, they should be closed down, an inspector said.
Join our WhatsApp groupSubscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
Amusement-safety consultant Walt Reiss, said that if it were up to him, he would padlock a fairground set up on land on Coney Island owned by developer Joseph Sitt.
“If I had to sign my name to this ride, I would shut it down,” said Reiss after looking at the Swingout ride, one of the featured attractions at Geren Rides, an amusement center run by a Georgia-based company.
Geren Rides’ owner, Glen Geren, said the carnival has had two official city inspections – with the most recent being only two weeks ago. An insurance company conducted a third inspection just last week, he said. “We passed with no problems,” Geren said. “Whoever is saying this is nuts,” he said. “We have been properly inspected, and those official inspectors said we were perfectly safe.”
A city Buildings Department spokeswoman said Geren Rides passed its inspections. But Reiss, whose résumé includes training New York City inspectors, said he saw problems with other rides. “The ‘Ring of Fire’ has serious problems with [support beams],” he said. On the “Scrambler,” latches on safety bars were badly aligned, he said.
Stefan Friedman, a spokesman for Sitt’s real-estate company, said, “Our tenant has assured us he has all permits on site.”
The Coney Island rides (as are all other amusement park rides run in the city), are inspected before they are permitted to open for business by the NYC Dep’t of Buildings inspectors, and in mid-season! Some of those zany rides, however, are tempting fate! And any sane person would not ride them, or permit their children on them!!!
Is there a real fear of decapitation by roller-coaster, because of what just happened at 6 Flags?
To Murray
No. Did you take the time to read about the 6 Flags accident? Of course not. READ IT. The boy climbed over several fences that clearly warns of danger in area. He got hit by the ride as it passed him at a terrific speed. HE WAS NOT ON THE RIDE. HE WAS IN AN UNAUTHORIZED AREA!!