GREENSBORO, NC -- Slide the City had to go through Greensboro's permit process to get permission to set up but does anybody inspect it for safety like other attractions that come into the state?
It turns out there's a hole in the safety inspection process for the giant slip-in-slide. It doesn't fall in to anyone's jurisdiction.
The Department of Labor inspects inflatable bounce houses. But not the slip-n-slide because none of the riders are supported by a column of air. They're just riding on padding down the city street. So there's nothing to deflate and people can't get trapped inside and suffocate..
Slide the City does not meet the definition of a waterslide or a mechanical ride either. So again the Department of Labor won't inspect it under that rule either.
The slide's event coordinator tells me they're taking every precaution to make the slide safe - even changing up the lanes. This year there will be a single rider lane, a family lane and a group lane.
They also give you a mouth piece and water watching alot of video of the slip-n-slide, I'd recommend wave shoes because they stay on a whole lot better than flip flops.