Rollercoaster FAQs

Read some frequently-asked questions about our rollercoasters! These thrilling funfair rides are certain to get people screaming in delight, but as they're complicated and complex attractions, you might have plenty of pressing questions about them!

We Are Tricycle have answered some of people's most common concerns and issues with roller coasters. Please let us know if there's anything you'd like us to cover - take a look at our contact page.

• How to stay safe on roller coasters. Keep your arms in to the carriage at all times! Read our advice about rollercoaster safety, and see what you and your guests can do to ensure problem-free rides.
• What is the history of the rollercoaster? Have you ever wondered how rollercoasters became the world-wide success they are nowadays? Find out below how these white knuckle rides began and how they became so ubiquitous.
• How do roller coasters work? These towering rides take voyagers on a high-G journey through loops, twists and turns, but what is the physics behind these rides?
• What are the forces experienced on a roller coaster? With acceleration, centrifugal forces and much more propelling you around the track, it's no surprise the roller coaster is a force to be reckoned with!
• How do rollercoasters go upside-down without falling off? Rollercoasters are famed for looping, twisting tracks, but how do the carriages go upside-down safely?
• What are the biggest roller coasters in the world? Rollercoaster designers are always striving to create a ride that is bigger, taller and scarier than the last. See some of the world's record-breaking rollercoasters here.
• What are the different types of roller coaster? You might have heard about steel rollercoasters, wooden rollercoasters and more, but what do these mean, and are there any fundamental differences between the varying styles?
• What is the best seat on a roller coaster? It's a hotly-contested topic, but We Are Tricycle have summed up the arguments for you!
• Can I design my own rollercoaster? We have custom funfair ride development services at We Are Tricycle, and we've made some one-off rides for exhibitions, brand activations and more.

More Questions About Rollercoasters and Fairground Rides

Rollercoasters generate plenty of questions beyond how the ride itself works. Riders may want to understand restrictions, safety and what to expect, while event organisers have additional questions about testing, weather, accessibility and fitting larger attractions into an event. These related FAQ collections provide useful places to continue.

Interested in other high-energy fairground rides?

Rollercoasters are only one part of the faster-paced end of the fairground. Our Thrill Ride FAQs explore questions relating to thrill rides more generally, making them a useful next step if you are comparing different types of high-energy attraction.

How are rollercoasters and other rides tested?

Testing and inspection are understandably common subjects when people start researching fairground rides. Funfair Testing FAQs bring together questions specifically about the testing side of fairground equipment.

For the wider operational picture, Health and Safety FAQs cover further questions relating to fairground safety.

What about accessibility and ride restrictions?

Whether somebody can use a particular rollercoaster depends on the individual ride and its operating requirements. Restrictions cannot be assumed to be identical from one attraction to another.

Our Funfair Accessibility FAQs provide broader information about accessibility and inclusion at funfairs, including considerations relevant when an event contains several different types of attraction.

Can weather affect rollercoasters?

Outdoor rides operate within equipment-specific requirements and prevailing site conditions, so weather considerations form an important part of event planning. There is no single weather limit that can be applied universally to every rollercoaster or fairground ride.

Rainy Weather FAQs deal with questions about wet conditions, while Summer Funfair FAQs explore issues associated with events during warmer weather.

How do rollercoasters compare with other major rides?

If you are researching several attractions for the same event, there are dedicated FAQ collections for other familiar fairground rides. Visit Dodgems FAQs for bumper-car questions, Ferris Wheel FAQs for observation wheel information or Carousel FAQs for traditional carousel questions.

These repositories can be particularly useful when an event needs a mixture of attraction styles rather than several rides aimed at the same type of participant.

What can non-riders do at the event?

A rollercoaster may be a major attraction without needing to be the only focus of the event. Games can provide additional entertainment for visitors who are waiting, taking a break or choosing not to ride.

Funfair Game FAQs cover traditional fairground games, while Giant Game FAQs answer questions about larger-format games that can form another part of the event programme.

Planning space for a rollercoaster and other attractions?

Larger fairground equipment needs to be considered as part of the complete site plan, including suitable equipment access, operating space and visitor circulation. Exact requirements depend on the particular attraction rather than simply the fact that it is a rollercoaster.

Event Planning and Logistics FAQs explore wider site and event-planning questions, while How to Manage Queues at Funfairs looks specifically at managing waiting areas and visitor flow.

Want to explore rollercoaster and funfair history?

Rollercoasters also form an important part of the development of amusement parks and travelling fairs. Funfair History FAQs provide a route into the historical side of fairground entertainment and the development of different attractions.

Continue with our fairground FAQs and guides

Browse the main FAQs section for more question-and-answer collections, or visit Guides for detailed articles covering rides, safety, operation and event planning. If you are considering fairground attractions for an event, contact us to discuss your requirements.