Weight limits for passengers on public transport

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From Bodle (may be an old story)

The Greek island of Santorini has banned “overweight” tourists from riding donkeys on the island due to the stress it’s putting on the animals’ bodies, CNN reports. Activists had been complaining about the spinal injuries the donkeys experienced as a result of carrying around heavy travelers and transporting them up some of the island’s slopes and staircases, and it seems their pleas finally prompted real change.

1. NO TOURISTS OVER 220 POUNDS ARE ALLOWED TO RIDE.
The new rules in Santorini means that tourists must weigh less than 220 pounds (100 kg) in order to be able to ride one of the island’s donkeys, which translates to 20% of the donkey’s body weight. According to the Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food, the donkeys “should not be loaded with a weight excessive in size, age or physical condition.”

There are alternative means of transport available - there's a cable car, and shank's pony too.







I've also heard of limits on passengers of extreme size requiring multiple seats on aircraft. a friend of ours (RIP Rmac) had issues with this, and I have been weighed before flying.   Is there a case for charging based on weight on other public transport?

[Bmblbzzz]

I took a flight in an 8-seater plane between two small islands, for which everyone and their luggage was weighed and instructed to sit in a certain place so that the plane would be balanced. I'm not sure if there was an actual limit though.

[GBM]

Happens on smaller Isles of Scilly flights

[ellendune]

220lbs to the 100kg.  I take it those are American Customary units not Imperial

[Clan Line]

When we went out to our (18 seat) aircraft for the Grand Canyon tourist flight we had to stand on painted "footprints" displaying our seat numbers. This ensured that the aircraft was efficiently loaded from front to rear and that the pilots could see that the passenger load was balanced along the aircraft. Obviously there was no hold baggage.

[TaplowGreen]

From Bodle (may be an old story)

The Greek island of Santorini has banned “overweight” tourists from riding donkeys on the island due to the stress it’s putting on the animals’ bodies, CNN reports. Activists had been complaining about the spinal injuries the donkeys experienced as a result of carrying around heavy travelers and transporting them up some of the island’s slopes and staircases, and it seems their pleas finally prompted real change.

1. NO TOURISTS OVER 220 POUNDS ARE ALLOWED TO RIDE.
The new rules in Santorini means that tourists must weigh less than 220 pounds (100 kg) in order to be able to ride one of the island’s donkeys, which translates to 20% of the donkey’s body weight. According to the Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food, the donkeys “should not be loaded with a weight excessive in size, age or physical condition.”

There are alternative means of transport available - there's a cable car, and shank's pony too.







I've also heard of limits on passengers of extreme size requiring multiple seats on aircraft. a friend of ours (RIP Rmac) had issues with this, and I have been weighed before flying.   Is there a case for charging based on weight on other public transport?

I think if someone cannot properly fit in one seat, it's reasonable to expect them to pay for two.

Important to remember however that those of athletic physique (which I'm sure includes all on this forum!) Could potentially be quite "heavy" but entirely proportionately - professional rugby players in the modern era for example - and fit into a seat quite comfortably without troubling their neighbour.

[Bmblbzzz]

220lbs to the 100kg.  I take it those are American Customary units not Imperial

I wonder if it was converted by CNN or issued that way by the Santorini authorities?

Also, I'm surprised a donkey weighs as much as 500kg.

[grahame]

Also, I'm surprised a donkey weighs as much as 500kg.

The Donkey Sanctuary web site tells us

The weight of a donkey will vary depending on their age and breed, but an adult donkey could weigh anything between 100-500 kg. Our own herd contains various shapes and sizes, for instance, a standard size donkey could weigh 165 kg compared with a miniature donkey that could weigh 144 kg.

And the donkeys on Santorini were certainly in the upper end of size.   I suspect, though, that they are not up to that 500 Kg figure.

[Clan Line]

And the donkeys on Santorini were certainly in the upper end of size.   I suspect, though, that they are not up to that 500 Kg figure.

I do not profess to be an equine expert but, on a second look, those "donkeys" look more like mules....................or perhaps their riders are just very small people.

[grahame]

I do not profess to be an equine expert but, on a second look, those "donkeys" look more like mules....................or perhaps their riders are just very small people.

I would agree - mind - thought THIS was a horse but I'm told it's a zebra.

[stuving]

220lbs to the 100kg.  I take it those are American Customary units not Imperial

That reminds me - the government's consultation on "Choice on units of measurement: markings and sales" closes tomorrow. It's so short it can easily still be completed now, as a simple form to e-mail (or complete on-line).

[Bmblbzzz]

220lbs to the 100kg.  I take it those are American Customary units not Imperial

That reminds me - the government's consultation on "Choice on units of measurement: markings and sales" closes tomorrow. It's so short it can easily still be completed now, as a simple form to e-mail (or complete on-line).

Done! I look forward to the introduction of the "sturdy donkey" as a unit of weight.

[Clan Line]

Done! I look forward to the introduction of the "sturdy donkey" as a unit of weight.

How many of those to an “Olympic swimming pool”  "jumbo jet" ?

[stuving]

Done! I look forward to the introduction of the "sturdy donkey" as a unit of weight.

How many of those to an “Olympic swimming pool”  "jumbo jet" ?

Are we still talking about 220 lb weight? Surely that is a windle - the traders' measure of corn in Preston only 100 years ago (see Lord Clinton in the House of Lords introducing the second reading of the Corn Sales Bill in 1921).

[broadgage]

I had to pay extra to ascend in a tethered balloon once. With the usual number of other passengers, it stayed firmly on the ground when the mooring rope was released.
And after reducing the load, it ascended very slowly and came down again when it rained.

I once flew in a light aircraft, the pilot remarked that it took "longer than normal to get into the air" and that the rate of climb was halved. In retrospect I suspect that we exceeded the maximum permitted take of weight, but I was not actually weighed.

No good will come of these flying machines. If God intended that we should fly we would have wings.