What's the difference between Dodgems and Bumper Cars?

Dodgems and bumper cars are common funfair amusement rides enjoyed by modern fairground lovers across the world, and many people think the two terms are synonymous - but are they? What is the difference between a dodgem ride and bumper cars?

The answer is in their history. When the Dodgems funfair ride was invented in America in the 1920s, it was named "dodgems" after the company that invented it. This name had a double meaning, as players were not supposed to bump into each other, and were instead expected to "dodge" their friends and family while playing the game.

In fact, in one version of Russian dodgems, collisions were penalised, and players could be asked to leave if they bumped into someone else. Unlike the fun and exciting dodgems we know today, these early examples of the funfair ride would break if they clashed together, and they were a big safety hazard. They certainly wouldn't pass the strict safety and maintenance checks we have in place here at We Are Tricycle!

For players today, it is lots of fun to steer and drive the cars around the track, but the original bumper cars were not driveable, which led to some pretty bad reviews.

Despite this, dodgems soon became very popular and the term "bumper cars" was introduced after it became increasingly clear that players enjoyed bumping into one another, and collisions were hard to avoid among competitive young ones. In fact, once the branding became different, collisions were no longer banned, but encouraged!

Whether they are called "dodgems" or "bumper cars" there's no doubt that they are entertaining, exciting, and filled with fun for all the family. And now that the safety and driving of modern bumper cars have been improved, they are the perfect entertainment for families, young people, and children.

We Are Tricycle - Dodgems and Bumper Cars for Hire

Here at We Are Tricycle we have a fantastic range of bumper cars and dodgems ready for hire, including modern dodgems and traditional dodgems. There's a key difference between our dodgems and bumper cars specifically; our brand of bumper cars were specifically created with younger kids in mind, making sure kids of all ages can enjoy their day out at funfairs and fairgrounds across the UK.

Our bumper cars use a lot of inflatable technology to provide kids with a bouncy and cushioned ride, even if they decide to crash into each other. Even the surrounds of our Dodgems track is i nflated to ensure the best protection. On the other hand, our Dodgems use the standard Dodgems bumpers on the cars, so there's a little bit more rough-and-tumble fun to be had.

To find out more about our fantastic range of bumper cars and dodgems, please get in touch or organise your entertainment rental with us today. Whatever you choose, you know you're with a team you can trust when you hire Dodgems, Bumper Cars or any other funfair or fairground rides with We Are Tricycle.