Longridge Pump Track
What is a Pump Track?
A Pump track is designed for all things on wheels. From BMX and mountain bikes to skateboards and roller skates.
​
Pump tracks provide the ideal access to cycling from toddlers through to professional cyclists. They are designed to encourage community spirit, learning and promote an active outdoor lifestyle.
The tracks are suitable for a wide range of abilities, with a beginner simply rolling through the track, but as you get better the tracks are designed to provide more challenges. As the skills of the riders increase, their imagination is the only limit to how the track can be ridden, linking features together. This means the appeal of a well-designed pump track is long lasting and keeps everyone interested.
What are the benefits of a pump track
-
Promotes a healthy active lifestyle in the community
-
Mental health benefits – another option instead of social media
-
Promotes physical fitness, coordination and timing
-
Creates social interaction between various age groups
-
Provides a meeting point for users to socialise with a purpose
-
Provides a unique facility within the town centre which can be used by all ages
Combating Anti – Social behaviour
North Lanarkshire Council - Since the construction of the Wishaw Pump Track the local crime rate has fallen by 55%, call outs to fire services have reduced massively alongside a decline in drug and alcohol usage amongst teens. The local council estimates that the Velosolutions Pump Track has already paid for itself.
“Barry Sidings Pumptrack has reduced antisocial behaviour in the community by 70%” – PC Nigel Bird, South Wales Police.
A study in Trehafod in the Rhondda Valley shows that a pumptrack installed in 2009 reduced antisocial behaviour in the local community by 70%. Further still, in 2014 the project was included in a European Commission list of the best and most promising practises in EU community policing.
Health and fitness
It is a great way for children and adults to actively increase fitness levels, reduce the chances of obesity and improve mental health. With the increasing draw of mobile phones, computer games and social media it is good for young people to have another outlet to burn energy.
With more traffic on the roads and the implied safety concerns, this has increased the need for dedicated areas in urban environments for people to cycle in.
​
Pump tracks are an increasingly popular solution as a safe place for use of bicycles and other wheeled sports activities in urban areas. They provide users with a free to use facility where the only requirement is access to a bicycle, scooter or skateboard.
As the town population increases, the demand for such areas increases also. Currently, teenagers are not well catered for in any of the Longridge recreation grounds and a Pump track would provide another sporting option.
Community
This would be a free to use facility available to all users including local individuals and groups, coaches, sports clubs and school groups. There will be a thriving community around the pump track with a dedicated group of volunteers, striving to provide a world class sports and play facility. Regular events and racing will create a place for all users to learn and develop a huge variety of skills, both on and off the bike.
Increasing local tourism and visitors
A tarmac pump track in Longridge can expect to attract a large amount of users from all over the North West. Predominantly during the week, it would be expected that it would mainly be used by locals, whereas at weekends it could attract hundreds of visitors to the town. This would help to support local and rural tourism.
​
Longridge’s proximity to the M6 motorway means great access from surrounding towns and cities such as Blackpool, Preston, Bolton and Manchester. It would attract families, groups of friends and individuals who would also spend money in the town, visiting cafes, shops and car parking.
Longridge has a huge and thriving cycling community that enjoys all aspects of bike riding, from mountain biking to road cycling. A pump track would be a huge asset to Longridge and the wider area. As well as an asset for local people, it's a great reason for people to travel to the area.
Concept Designs
Kestor Lane Playing Fields has been chosen as the most suitable site within the town due to its proximity to local amenities such as parking and toilets as well as integrating the pump track in to the existing facilities. Velosolutions is one of the world leaders in the design and build of pumptracks and have kindly provided us with an initial suggested location and design. This is subject to detailed design after site survey and local consultations.
​
​
The reasons for locating here are to:
​
-
Allow a 30m buffer from residential property
-
Integrate in to existing facilities
-
Allow a more comprehensive and cost effective lighting solution
-
Allow easy access onto greenspace from the path
-
Help to mitigate ‘boggy’ areas around the skate park by installing suitable drainage
The exact size, cost and location of the track will be determined by the amount of funding and donations secured for the project as well as planning consent and consultations with public, councils and local groups.
​
With sufficient funding, the track would be approximately 180m in length, a total area footprint of around 2500m2 and a cost of approximately £200,000.
Lighting
​
The track will ideally be floodlit to enable year round use. The lighting would be carefully considered and expertly designed to maximise the experience on the track whilst minimizing the impact on any residential or environmental areas. This would help to reduce anti-social behaviour and create a year round facility.
'FAQ'
Safety: pump tracks are very safe, with few accidents reported. These are usually the result of not wearing a helmet. Helmets are essential. The track will be built to RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) and British Cycling standards and inspected before handover. One way signage arrows on the track can be included, and a code of conduct displayed.
All riding surfaces and edges are low to the ground, so riders are not at risk of falling from a high point. Rounded edges, gentle embankments and perfect geometry guarantee a safe ride.
​
Maintenance: the tarmac is very high specification with minimal maintenance requirements.
Drainage: This would be included in the contract: a detailed drainage plan will be drawn up after the site survey.
​
Antisocial behaviour: Experience elsewhere is that antisocial behaviour is very uncommon. Crime and antisocial behaviour often fall dramatically.
​
Noise: There will not be the annoying noise that people associate with the older skateboard parks. The tarmac is a “low noise” surface and the possible tree planting could muffle noise. Obviously there will be the noise of people enjoying themselves!
​
Damage to the field by large trucks accessing the site: A contractor can place wide aluminium tracking across the access path to limit any damage to the rest of the field.
​
Carbon footprint of tarmac: The track is of limited length, and will be designed to set into the landscape. The carbon footprint can be offset by wild flower meadow and/or tree planting in and around the track. The tarmac has a high recycled content and is extremely hard wearing.
Landscaping: The internal areas and perimeter can be grass, wildflower or planted with low maintenance shrubs. Hedging can be used to create a boundary if needed and to help to integrate in to the surroundings.This will also help the facility to have a positive environmental impact.
The implementation of a pump track in Longridge will have the following outcomes:
​
-
Promotion of cycling primarily amongst children and young people but extending to and not excluding all other age categories.
​
-
Promotion of a healthy and active lifestyle.
​
-
Deterrence of anti-social behaviour.
​
-
Improvement and development of community assets.
​
-
Productive and enhanced use of vacant park space
​
-
Provide a meeting point for social interaction
still not convinced….!
watch some videos of completed projects from around the UK