A PumpTrack offers five key benefits for the neighborhood: it is suitable for all ages, encourages physical activity in an accessible way, has low maintenance costs, meets legal safety requirements, and strengthens social cohesion in the neighborhood. This makes a PumpTrack one of the most versatile sports facilities you can install as a municipality or recreation park. You can read exactly why this is the case in the questions below.
Which age groups can use a PumpTrack?
A PumpTrack is suitable for everyone, from toddlers on balance bikes to adults on BMX or road bikes. That makes it one of the few outdoor facilities that literally serves all age groups on the same surface, at the same time.
How does that work? The undulating tracks and gradual turns of a PumpTrack are designed so that you ride them at your own pace and level. A toddler goes slowly over the bumps, while a teenager uses the same track to build speed without pedaling. And an adult on a skateboard or inline skates rides that same route with a completely different technique.
Besides bicycles and BMX, there is a asphalt PumpTrack also accessible to skateboards, scooters, and inline skates. That wide range of uses is precisely what distinguishes a PumpTrack from a traditional skatepark or playground, both of which appeal to only a limited group. A PumpTrack caters simultaneously to the toddler, the teenager, and the parent watching or riding a lap themselves.
Moreover, well-designed PumpTracks are accessible to people with disabilities, including wheelchair users with a manual wheelchair — a handbike is not necessary for this. As a result, the facility is more inclusive than most alternatives in this respect as well.
How does a PumpTrack stimulate movement in young people?
A PumpTrack encourages physical activity among young people by combining play and sports in a way that is intrinsically motivating. Young people do not go to a PumpTrack because it is healthy, but simply because it is fun. That is exactly why it works where traditional sports facilities fall short.
Young people are moving less and less. They spend more time in front of screens and drop out of organized sports more quickly. A PumpTrack requires no membership, no fixed training time, and no teammates. You grab your bike, go to the track, and ride. This low barrier makes it attractive to young people who normally get little exercise.
In addition, a PumpTrack offers a challenge at every level. Beginners learn balance and coordination, while advanced users work on technique and speed. This progression keeps young people engaged, even in the long term. They return because they want to improve themselves, not because someone asks them to.
The social aspect also plays a major role. Young people observe each other, learn from one another, and challenge one another. This informal learning process and social interaction are strong motivators to come more often and stay longer.
What are the maintenance costs of a PumpTrack compared to a playground?
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An asphalt PumpTrack has structurally lower maintenance costs than a traditional playground. Whereas wooden play equipment needs to be painted, repaired, or replaced regularly, asphalt is a durable material that requires little maintenance and has a lifespan of at least 20 years.
Playgrounds with wooden or metal equipment require annual inspections, regular painting, and periodic replacement of parts that wear out or rust. These costs add up significantly over the years. An asphalt PumpTrack does not have these problems. The surface wears gradually but requires no intensive maintenance.
What does the annual maintenance of a PumpTrack cost?
The annual maintenance of a PumpTrack consists primarily of a visual inspection and, if necessary, minor repairs to the asphalt. Velosolutions offers annual inspection and maintenance, which can also be purchased via a maintenance contract. This is significantly less labor-intensive than the maintenance of an average playground with multiple pieces of equipment.
How long does a PumpTrack last?
A well-constructed asphalt PumpTrack lasts at least 20 years. After that, repair or renovation is possible, which can extend the total lifespan even further. In terms of cost per user and cost per year, this is a favorable comparison with virtually any other playground facility.
For municipalities with a limited budget, that is a relevant factor. You make a one-time investment in a facility that lasts for decades, requires little maintenance, and serves a large group of users. This makes the total cost of ownership of a PumpTrack more attractive than that of many traditional alternatives.
Does a PumpTrack comply with WAS legislation and NEN-EN14974?
Yes, a professionally installed asphalt PumpTrack complies with the Dutch Amusement and Playground Equipment Act (WAS) and is certified according to the NEN-EN14974 standard. These are the same legal requirements that approved playground equipment must meet.
For municipalities, this certification is not a detail, but a requirement. Without WAS certification, a play facility in a public space may not be installed. A PumpTrack that meets these requirements gives municipalities the legal certainty they need to justify the investment.
The NEN-EN14974 standard sets specific requirements for the construction, safety, and use of skate facilities. A certified PumpTrack is tested and approved on all these points. This provides not only legal certainty but also confidence among residents and users.
When choosing a supplier, it is wise to check whether the PumpTrack is actually delivered with a certificate, and does not merely meet the standard on paper. View our completed projects to see how that works in practice.
How much space do you need for a PumpTrack in the neighborhood?
A small PumpTrack fits on an area of approximately 200 to 400 square meters. That is comparable to a few parking spaces or a small lawn. Larger, more challenging tracks start at 600 square meters and can expand to more than 1.000 square meters.
The required space depends on the intended use and the target group. A PumpTrack for young children in a residential area can be compact. A track that also challenges advanced riders requires more space for longer straights and deeper, gradual turns.
The good news for municipalities with scarce land is that a PumpTrack makes more efficient use of the available space than most other sports facilities. A football field requires many times more space and serves a much narrower target group. A 400-square-meter PumpTrack can serve children, teenagers, and adults simultaneously.
Moreover, a PumpTrack is flexible in shape. The design adapts to the available space, not the other way around. Irregular plots, corners in a park, or leftover strips along a road are all suitable as a starting point for a design.
What are the social benefits of a PumpTrack for the neighborhood?
A PumpTrack strengthens social cohesion in a neighborhood because it serves as a meeting place for various age groups. Children, teenagers, and adults use the same space, which fosters spontaneous interaction between generations and strengthens the sense of community.
Outdoor play areas designed exclusively for a specific age group automatically create separation. A skatepark attracts teenagers, a playground attracts preschoolers. A PumpTrack attracts everyone at once. This creates a lively, mixed place where neighborhood residents meet.
In addition, a well-utilized public space has a positive effect on social safety. A PumpTrack that is in daily use ensures more eyes on the street and reduces the risk of vandalism or deterioration of the surroundings.
For parents, it is also practical: children play outside, are active, and are in the neighborhood. This provides peace of mind and promotes independence in children. Teenagers have their own meeting place that is not tied to rules or consumption, which lowers the barrier to being outdoors.
At the neighborhood level, a PumpTrack contributes to a more positive image of the neighborhood. It is a visible sign that investments are being made in the living environment, which strengthens pride and involvement among residents.
How Velosolutions helps with a PumpTrack in your neighborhood
Velosolutions is the market leader in the Netherlands with over 100 installed PumpTracks and 12 years of experience. We guide municipalities and recreation parks from the initial consultation to completion with certification, and subsequently with annual maintenance. Wearing a helmet is mandatory on Velosolutions PumpTracks. You do not have to figure out the process yourself.
- Custom-designed tracks that fit the available space and the local target group
- Fully certified in accordance with WAS legislation and NEN-EN14974, including completion certificate
- 5 year warranty on all PumpTracks and a lifespan of at least 20 years
- Annual maintenance so that the track always remains safe and in top condition, also available via a maintenance contract.
- Guidance for initiators who want to convince their municipality of a PumpTrack
Read more about us and discover why municipalities and recreation parks throughout the Netherlands choose Velosolutions. Do you want to know what is possible for your situation? Request a no-obligation consultation and we are happy to think along with you.
