FREN

Pump tracks

Find a pump track or bike park open to everyone and ride the rollers without pedalling.

A pump track is a looped circuit of rollers and banked turns that you ride by pushing with your arms and legs instead of pedalling. Oukonjou also lists free-access bike parks and casual BMX tracks. Here is how they work, who can ride them and which rules apply.

Also known as: pumptrack, bike park, BMX track.

See on the mapNearest to meGet alerts for new pump tracks

Overview

On a pump track, your speed comes from your body. You unweight as you ride up a roller, then push the bike or board down the back side: that is the “pump”. Once you link the movements, you can lap the whole track without a single pedal stroke. The track forms a closed loop, often with several lines that split and rejoin.

Many tracks are surfaced with asphalt, which makes them rideable on bikes, scooters, skateboards and skates. Others are made of packed dirt, which in practice limits them to bikes, or built from prefabricated modules. In France, an AFNOR specification published in 2021 covers the design and installation of pump tracks.

Free-access bike parks add jump lines, tables and more committing turns. Casual BMX tracks follow the layout of a race track, with a start hill, rollers and berms. A good facility has a well-kept surface, clear safety zones around the track and, ideally, a separate loop for beginners. For ramps and bowls, see skateparks instead.

Where to find pump tracks

25 pump tracks listed in 21 towns.

By country

Best-equipped towns

Who it's for

Mountain bikes and BMXThe best fit: small wheels or a compact frame, with firm suspension or none at all. Road and city bikes are not built for this terrain.
Balance bikes and kids' bikesOn a gentle track or beginner loop, young children learn balance and pumping very early, with an adult keeping watch.
Scooters, skateboards and skatesPossible on asphalt tracks where the rules allow it. On a dirt track, leave the small wheels at home.
Jumping at the bike parkLines of tables and doubles to build your jumping skills. Best tackled once you feel at ease on a pump track.
Casual BMXFree-access BMX tracks let you practise starts, rollers and berms in the spirit of BMX racing.

Rules of use

On a looped track, everyone rides in the same flow. These rules prevent most collisions and appear in most posted regulations.

  • Follow the opening hours and rules posted on site: they are set by the local authority or the operator.
  • Ride in the direction shown. If nothing is signposted, go the same way as everyone else.
  • Start from the roll-in, one rider at a time, and leave a real gap to the person ahead.
  • Never stop on the track. To rest or adjust your bike, step right off the riding surface.
  • Don't walk across the track, and don't sit on the rollers or in the berms.
  • If there is a beginner loop, leave it to children and people who are learning.
  • Respect which disciplines are allowed: some tracks set times for each or ban small wheels.
  • On dirt tracks, don't dig or reshape jumps without the operator's permission.
  • Report holes, cracks or erosion to the town hall or the operator.

Safety and gear

  • Wear a helmet that meets EN 1078, fastened and properly fitted. For jumping at a bike park, a full-face helmet protects your face as well.
  • Add gloves and, while you learn, knee and elbow pads.
  • Check your bike before riding: brakes, wheels secured, pedals and tyre pressure.
  • Ride your first lap slowly to spot grit, sand or puddles in the dips.
  • Stay off wet or muddy tracks: berms get slippery and dirt surfaces get damaged.
  • Keep an eye on young children at all times: they can stop dead in the middle of a roller.
  • Only jump what you know you can land, and progress step by step.

Regulations

FranceAFNOR SPEC S52-113

Published in November 2021, this specification covers the design and installation of pump tracks. It gives towns and builders a reference framework. AFNOR describes it as a world first.

FranceRating by the French Cycling Federation

To host pump track competitions, a track can be rated by the FFC. Requirements include a minimum length of about 200 m excluding the roll-in (which runs 20 to 40 m), an asphalt surface and safety zones of at least 2 m around the riding surface. A separate beginner area is recommended.

FranceMunicipal orders

Pump track rules are often set out in a municipal order. These commonly require riders to respect other users and to hold third-party liability insurance, and may set opening hours.

FranceHelmets for children

In France, helmets are compulsory for children under 12 cycling on public roads, whether riding or carried as passengers (Decree No. 2016-1800). On a pump track, local rules often require one, and wearing one is strongly advised at any age.

EuropeHelmets: EN 1078

Cycling, skateboarding and roller skating helmets fall under the European standard EN 1078. Check for this reference on the label before you buy.

BelgiumBelgium: NBN EN standards and local rules

In Belgium, European standards are adopted under the NBN EN reference, including those for helmets. For the track itself, rely on the rules posted by the town or the operator.

European standards are voluntary, but they are the reference when an accident happens. The rules posted on site always come first.

Etiquette

  • Give younger riders and beginners room, and don't overtake them closely on the rollers.
  • If someone falls ahead of you, slow down and warn the riders behind.
  • Share the track between bikes and small wheels when the rules allow both.
  • Keep your music in your headphones, especially near homes and in the evening.
  • Take your rubbish home, punctured inner tubes included, and keep glass well away from the track.
  • Don't treat the track as your group's private space: a free-access pump track belongs to everyone.

Glossary

Pumping
Bending and extending your arms and legs to turn the terrain into speed.
Roller
The basic bump on the track. You roll over it wheels down, or jump it once you carry more speed.
Berm
A banked turn that lets you corner without braking and carry speed out of it.
Table
A jump with a flat top between take-off and landing, so a short jump lands on the flat instead of in a gap.
Double
Two bumps with a gap between them, cleared in a single jump. For confident riders only.
Roll-in
The start section, often raised, used to gain speed before you drop onto the track.
Riding surface
The part of the track you ride on, as opposed to the safety zones around it.
Manual
Riding on the back wheel without pedalling, balanced. Handy for clearing some rollers without losing speed.
Did you know?

In November 2021, AFNOR published SPEC S52-113 on the design and installation of pump tracks, which it describes as a world first.

What to bring

  • Helmet meeting EN 1078, or a full-face helmet for jumps
  • Cycling gloves
  • Knee and elbow pads
  • Pump and puncture repair kit
  • Water bottle

FAQ

Is the pump track free?

Yes. The pump tracks, bike parks and casual BMX tracks listed on Oukonjou are free-access: no fee and no booking. Opening hours may be set by municipal order.

Do I need a helmet?

Local rules often require one, and it is strongly advised at any age. In France, helmets are compulsory for children under 12 cycling on public roads.

How old do you need to be to ride a pump track?

As soon as a child can ride a balance bike, they can try a gentle track or beginner loop with an adult nearby. Posted rules may set age limits or require supervision.

Can I ride a scooter, skateboard or skates?

Often yes on asphalt tracks, if the rules allow it. Small wheels are not suited to dirt tracks.

What is the difference between a pump track, a bike park and a BMX track?

A pump track is a loop of rollers and berms that you ride without pedalling. A bike park adds jumps and more committing lines. A BMX track follows the layout of a race track, with a start hill.

Do I need insurance?

Some municipal rules require third-party liability insurance. Check with your insurer whether your policy covers this kind of riding.