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Human-powered roller coaster, welcome to the Dumb Ideas Club

Lawsuit-baiting.

Caroline McCarthy Former Staff writer, CNET News
Caroline McCarthy, a CNET News staff writer, is a downtown Manhattanite happily addicted to social-media tools and restaurant blogs. Her pre-CNET resume includes interning at an IT security firm and brewing cappuccinos.
Caroline McCarthy
Treehugger

This really takes the stupidity cake. Looking at the first few pictures, I thought the "Skycycle" in Okayama, Japan, was a sort of bike-ride-meets-skyway. You know, something that you could pedal around on at a nice, leisurely pace to get a birds' eye view of sights on the ground. But, no. It's a roller coaster. You get on it, and you pedal, and you go wheeeeeee.

Treehugger

This is scary for a number of reasons. Okay, so it might be eco-friendly because it's all done by manpower. But personally, I like my roller coasters to be automated. You never know what will happen when you put idiots in the driver's seat (and there are a lot of idiots out there). Plus, take a look at the seats on this thing. They don't look suitable for a golf cart, let alone a roller coaster.

Environmentally sustainable technology is awesome, but please, let's keep it safe. For a future "green roller coaster," how about some biofuels? Hmm?

(Via Treehugger)