Amusement rides, sometimes called carnival rides, are mechanical devices or structures that move people especially kids to create fun and enjoyment. Rides are often perceived by many as being scary or more dangerous than they actually are. This could be due to the design or from hearing about accidents involving rides that are similar. They are expected at most annual events such as fairs, traveling carnivals, and circuses around the world. Sometimes music festivals and concerts also host amusement park rides.

Types of rides

* Flat rides are usually considered to be those that move their passengers in a plane generally parallel to the ground, such as rides that spin around a vertical axis, like

carousel A carousel or carrousel (mainly North American English), merry-go-round (List of sovereign states, international), roundabout (British English), or hurdy-gurdy (an old term in Australian English, in South Australia, SA) is a type of amusement ...

s and

twist Twist may refer to: In arts and entertainment Film, television, and stage * ''Twist'' (2003 film), a 2003 independent film loosely based on Charles Dickens's novel ''Oliver Twist'' * ''Twist'' (2021 film), a 2021 modern rendition of ''Olive ...

s, and ground level rides such as

bumper cars Bumper cars or dodgems are the generic names for a type of flat amusement ride consisting of multiple small electrically powered cars which draw power from the floor and/or ceiling, and which are turned on and off remotely by an operator. Bumpe ...

and The Whip.Ferris wheels - an illustrated history, Norman D. Anderson
/ref> * Gravity rides are those where gravity is responsible for all or some of the movement, and where any vertical movement is not about a fixed point, such as

roller coaster A roller coaster, or rollercoaster, is a type of amusement ride that employs a form of elevated railroad track designed with tight turns, steep slopes, and sometimes inversions. Passengers ride along the track in open cars, and the rides are o ...

water slide A water slide (also referred to as a flume, or water chute) is a type of slide designed for warm-weather or indoor recreational use at water parks. Water slides differ in their riding method and therefore size. Some slides require riders to si ...

s, and drop towers. * Vertical rides usually move their passengers in a vertical plane and around a fixed point, such as Ferris wheels, Enterprise, and Skydiver. * As of the 2010s, some rides employ virtual reality as a part of the ride experience for greater thrill and fun.

Specific themes

* Dark ride *

Dodgems Bumper cars or dodgems are the generic names for a type of flat amusement ride consisting of multiple small electrically powered cars which draw power from the floor and/or ceiling, and which are turned on and off remotely by an operator. Bumpe ...

* Haunted attraction * Funhouse *

Pendulum ride Pendulum rides are amusement rides based on the motion of a fixed pendulum. The configuration of the ride consists of a gondola, arm, and an axle. One end of the arm is fitted with a passenger-carrying gondola, while the other is attached to the ...

* Rollercoaster * Ferris wheel

List of amusement rides

Literature

* Florian Dering: ''Volksbelustigungen. Eine bildreiche Kulturgeschichte von den Fahr-, Belustigungs- und Geschicklichkeitsgeschäften der Schausteller vom achtzehnten Jahrhundert bis zur Gegenwart.'' Greno, Nördlingen 1986, . * Karl Ruisinger: ''Kirmes Special. Karussells 1950er und 1960er Jahre'' (= ''Kirmes Special'' 1). Gemi Verlag, Reichertshausen 2005, . * Sacha-Roger Szabo: ''Rausch und Rummel. Attraktionen auf Jahrmärkten und in Vergnügungsparks. Eine soziologische Kulturgeschichte.'' transcript-Verlag, Bielefeld 2006, (Zugleich: Freiburg, Univ., Diss., 2006).

References

External links

* http://www.ride-index.de − Datenbank der Reisenden Fahrgeschäfte in Deutschland (''in German'')
History of Fairs - Fairground Rides - Modern Rides :: National Fairground Archive
{{Amusement parks *