Despite the well-publicized injuries, zip lines are becoming more popular.
For many, some experiences are simply an extreme example of what can happen when the sport goes wrong. A report from the Los Angeles Times finds that no government agency tracks zip line injury rates, but the industry is expanding at a dramatic rate. According to the Times, the number of zip line facilities in the United States has increased from 10 in 2001 to 200 or so today. Another report from the Ventura County Star put that number at closer to 250, 90 of which have been built in the past 18 months.
For many, some experiences are simply an extreme example of what can happen when the sport goes wrong. A report from the Los Angeles Times finds that no government agency tracks zip line injury rates, but the industry is expanding at a dramatic rate. According to the Times, the number of zip line facilities in the United States has increased from 10 in 2001 to 200 or so today. Another report from the Ventura County Star put that number at closer to 250, 90 of which have been built in the past 18 months.
The zip line industry says injuries are these commercial sites are rare, but new zip lines are under construction in California, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire, where eight new zip lines just opened at the Mount Sunapee ski resort.Two associations are in the process of drafting separate safety standards for zip lines. ASTM, formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials, already has standards in place for helmets and other products and expects to have its zip line standards drafted in one to two years. The Association for Challenge Course Technology expects to release the eighth version of its safety standards later this year.
