I've always wondered this. What's up w/ the catwalks throughout the ENTIRE coaster on all of the Japanese coasters? It kinda looks wierd.

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"If you focus on your giants, you stumble. If you focus on God, your giants tumble."

The Japanese are obsessed with coaster saftey, I bet building code has something to do with it.

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Plus, if the Japanese islands start shaking from another earthquake, the riders need a stable catwalk to walk down. That's a reason I see.

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ThrillNetwork Editor (past tense: lectricShark)
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Oh. I never thought about that. It kinda seems paranoid in my opinion.

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"If you focus on your giants, you stumble. If you focus on God, your giants tumble."

Insert Matt M. comment here > ( )

It makes walking the track and inspections signifigantly easier. That's it.

Specifically, Japanese building codes require it, plus they also require extra supports due to their environment, which is earthquake prone. It also allows for safer evacuation of the ride in the event of a mishap (think Steel Dragon 2000's mishap).

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Everytime I ride a coaster, it valleys. I've never been on a stalled coaster or had one roll back (except Wicked Twister and what was Superman: Ultimate Escape, which does that by design).

^Yeah but I doubt they would help in Steel Dragon 2000's case because I highly doubt that the people were even able to get up after such a sudden jolt. Ouch! Makes me hurt just thinking about it!

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"If you focus on your giants, you stumble. If you focus on God, your giants tumble."

The main reason is earhtquake safety i believe.
The same reason Pyrenees is a jungle of extra supports.

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Dave