Pump tracks: a circuit of rollers for all the family

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They're currently popping up all over the place: pump tracks. Originally designed as playgrounds for BMX and mountain bikers, they are now being ridden by all the family. We've put together an overview of the main tracks, and reveal what these circuits of rollers and berms are all about.

What are pump tracks?

A pump track is a continuous circuit of banked turns interspaced by rollers that can be ridden on all kinds of human-powered vehicles. Or to put it a little less technically, pump tracks mean great fun for all the family!

Getting around without pedalling

Many places in Switzerland have created asphalt pump tracks near sports facilities and children's playgrounds, making these undulating circuits accessible to a wider public. They can be ridden on kickboards, inline skates, skateboards and balance bikes, for example, as well as pedal-powered BMX bikes and classic mountain bikes.

Even though pump tracks have their origins in the BMX scene, they're tackled without the use of pedals – riders propel themselves forward via rhythmic, up and down body movements known as "pumping". To enable riders to get round the track without pedalling, the rollers are spaced at regular intervals and the elements are approx. 40 centimetres high.

What does the term "pump track" mean?

The two elements that make up this term – "pump" and "track" – are more or less self-explanatory: “track" refers to the undulating circuit, “pump” to the up-and-down body motion.

Roots in the 1970s

BMX bikes first became popular in the 1970s and '80s. Riding on undulating dirt tracks was part of the sport even back then – after all, it was a bit like motocross on bicycles. In the 2000s, pump tracks were mainly used by mountain bikers for training purposes. In the meantime, pump tracks have become mainstream – and we can certainly speak of them as a trend. Whereas the first pump tracks were built out of dirt and therefore required a great deal of maintenance, today's circuits are made of asphalt and built to last. They're seen by communes, towns and neighbourhoods as a meaningful leisure time activity. They've become a place where locals can meet, somewhere that is easily accessible and provides a great opportunity for outdoor exercise.

Pump tracks in Switzer­land: the main sites

For everyone keen to try out a pump track: grab your bike from the basement, put on your padding and protection – and off you go. There's no shortage of possibilities:

Pump tracks in the cantons AG, BE, BL, BS

Kanton Ort Pumptrack
AG Aarau Rolling RockAG
AG Baden-Dättwil Pumptrack Baden
AG Bad Zurzach Pumptrack Bad Zurzach
AG Brugg Pumptrack Wasserschloss Surfing Nature
AG Leibstadt VC Leibstadt
AR Urnäsch Pumptrack Urnäsch
BE Bern Pumptrack Lorraine Bern
BE Biel Pumptrack Wildermeth Biel
BE Frutigen Pumptrack Frutigen
BE Hasliberg Pumptrack Hasliber-Goldern
BE Köniz Mobiler Pumptrack der Gemeinde Köniz
BE Konolfingen Pumptrack Konolfingen
BE Magglingen Pumptrack Magglingen
BE La Neuveville Pumptrack La Neuveville
BE Oberried Oberried, Thömus AG
BE Prêles Pumptrack Plateau de Diesse
BE Saanen-Gstaad Pumppark Saanen
BE Sumiswald Pumptrack Sumiswald
BE Thierachern Pumptrack Thierachern
BE Thun Pumptrack Thun
BE Walkringen Pump Track Walkringen
BE Wiriehorn Wiriehornbahnen AG
BE Wohlen bei Bern Dirpark Schiesskanal
BE Zweisimmen Pumptrack Zweisimmen
BL Hölstein Bikepark Hölstein
BS Basel
Non Territorial Dirtparks
BS Basel Sportplatz Buschweilerhof
BS Riehen Riehen
BS Therwil Bike Park Leimental

Pump tracks in: FR, GR, GL, LU, NW, OW

SG, SH, SO, SZ, TG, TI, UR, VD, VS, ZH

Kanton Ort Pumptrack
SG Berneck Pumptrack Mittel-Rheintal
SG Flawil Mountainbike-Club Flawil
SG Schmerikon Pumptrack Schmerikon
SG St.Gallen Pump Garden St.Gallen
SG Toggenburg Pumptrack Toggenburg
SG Walenstadt Bikepark am See
SG Wildhaus Pumptrack Wildhus
SH Beringen
Velosolutions Pumptrack Beringen
SH Schaffhausen Pro Velo Pumptrack Breite
SO Gempen Pumptrack Gempen
SO Grenchen Velodrome Suisse
SO Hägendorf Pumptrack Hägendorf
SO Olten Pumptrack Olten
SO Weissenstein Pumptrack Weissenstein Park
SZ Altendorf Pumptrack Altendorf
SZ Schwyz Pumptrack on Tour im Kanton Schwyz
SZ Wollerau Freizeitpark Erlenmoos
TG Frauenfeld Pumptrack Frauenfeld
TG Güttingen Pumptrack Güttingen
TG Münchwilen Pumptrack Münchwilen
TG Salmsach Pumptrack am See
TG Steckborn Pumptrack Hub
TG Weinfelden BMX Bike Park Weinfelden
TI Cevio Pumptrack Cevio
TI Mendrisio Associazione MoMo Bike Mendrisio
UR Schattdorf Pumptrack Schattdorf
VD Aigle CMC
VD Leysin Pumptrack Leysin
VD Pampigny Pumptrack Pampigny
VD Villars-Gryon Pumptrack und Skatepark
VS Bellwald Bellwald Tourismus
VS Champéry Pumptrack Champéry
VS Crans Montana Bike Park Crans-Montana
VS Grimentz Pumptrack in Clos des Frès
VS Morgins Pumptrack de Morgins
VS Nendaz Nendaz
VS Savièse Velosolutions Pumptrack Savièse
VS Steg Pumptrack Steg
VS Verbier Bikepark Verbier
VS Zermatt Mobiler Pumptrack Zermatt
VS Zinal Zinal
ZG Cham Pumptrack Cham
ZH Birmensdorf Pumptrack Birmensdorf
ZH Gattikon Gattikon (mobiler Pumptrack)
ZH Rüti Bikepark Rüti
ZH Winterthur Sportamt Winterthur
ZH Zürich Bikepark Allmend
ZH Zürich Bikepark Sihlcity
ZH Zürichberg Pumptrack Zürichberg
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