On June 19 we attend a public meeting discussing recreation opportunities for Sutters Landing Park in Midtown. We were there to show our support for a pump track and have subsequently submitted comments to the City of Sacramento in support for a pump track at the park. Here are the comments we submitted:
[email protected]
SUTTER’S LANDING PARK COMMENTS
I am submitting comments to build active recreation, in particular a bicycle pump track, in Sacramento at Sutter’s Landing Park. Bicycle Skills Parks and Pump Tracks are being lobbied for and built in communities around the nation as a low impact human powered recreation facility for bicycle enthusiasts of all ages and abilities to enjoy. The community benefits of a bicycle facility such as a pump track are significant. Due to their low cost and multiple benefits, pump tracks are a desirable addition to the recreation options in any community.
A pump track is an endless loop of rollers and berms where the riders propel themselves through the track by shifting their body weight, or “pumping”, in conjunction with the track contours, rather than having to pedal. It creates a fun experience where riders can recreate, work on their bike handling skills, and get an excellent workout.
Who can use a pump track? The short answer is anyone with a bicycle. It doesn’t matter how young or how old, users can be toddlers on balance bikes or riders into their 60’s or 70’s that already enjoy riding on trails. Go to any northern California pump track and you’ll see this very thing! A pump track provides a safe environment to experience riding a bicycle, have fun, and get exercise. These facilities offer a community gathering spot for families, children and adults.
Benefits of a Pump Track
1. Pump tracks create a fun and positive atmosphere within the community
This is the kind of community place where people want to be. Kids can hang out together; families can bike from their homes to get in a nice ride after dinner. Adults get off work and come straight here to get a few laps in before dark. Riders of all ages come on the weekends and stay for hours on end. On the whole, people come together here to enjoy the simple sport of cycling and in doing so create a unique social setting for building friendships and new acquaintances.
2. Active recreation sites like pump tracks provide safe places to get exercise and great family fun
Active recreation facilities like pump tracks promote healthy, physical outdoor activity.
3. A pump track at Sutter’s Landing can provide family recreation that accessible by local bike lanes/trails and helps reduce carbon dioxide and other emissions.
The Sutter’s Landing location offers a great location where members of the community can safely access the pump track via established bike lanes throughout town. A pump track located outside of town would not have the same benefits. For this reason it’s important to build active recreation like a pump track in this park. From an emissions point of view, active recreation located outside the city would likely generate more vehicle trips and thus more emissions than if the track was located in a place where users could bike to instead. There would be no need to pack bikes into a car and travel outside the city to recreate.
4. All ages and skill levels can learn in the same location
Users of pump tracks are of all ages and abilities. You need only travel to pump tracks in Elk Grover, Folsom and Truckee to see toddlers scooting around the track on their balance bikes, or parents and grandparents recreating alongside their children. Pump tracks are not too intimidating for a beginner or too easy for a professional rider.
[email protected]
SUTTER’S LANDING PARK COMMENTS
I am submitting comments to build active recreation, in particular a bicycle pump track, in Sacramento at Sutter’s Landing Park. Bicycle Skills Parks and Pump Tracks are being lobbied for and built in communities around the nation as a low impact human powered recreation facility for bicycle enthusiasts of all ages and abilities to enjoy. The community benefits of a bicycle facility such as a pump track are significant. Due to their low cost and multiple benefits, pump tracks are a desirable addition to the recreation options in any community.
A pump track is an endless loop of rollers and berms where the riders propel themselves through the track by shifting their body weight, or “pumping”, in conjunction with the track contours, rather than having to pedal. It creates a fun experience where riders can recreate, work on their bike handling skills, and get an excellent workout.
Who can use a pump track? The short answer is anyone with a bicycle. It doesn’t matter how young or how old, users can be toddlers on balance bikes or riders into their 60’s or 70’s that already enjoy riding on trails. Go to any northern California pump track and you’ll see this very thing! A pump track provides a safe environment to experience riding a bicycle, have fun, and get exercise. These facilities offer a community gathering spot for families, children and adults.
Benefits of a Pump Track
1. Pump tracks create a fun and positive atmosphere within the community
This is the kind of community place where people want to be. Kids can hang out together; families can bike from their homes to get in a nice ride after dinner. Adults get off work and come straight here to get a few laps in before dark. Riders of all ages come on the weekends and stay for hours on end. On the whole, people come together here to enjoy the simple sport of cycling and in doing so create a unique social setting for building friendships and new acquaintances.
2. Active recreation sites like pump tracks provide safe places to get exercise and great family fun
Active recreation facilities like pump tracks promote healthy, physical outdoor activity.
3. A pump track at Sutter’s Landing can provide family recreation that accessible by local bike lanes/trails and helps reduce carbon dioxide and other emissions.
The Sutter’s Landing location offers a great location where members of the community can safely access the pump track via established bike lanes throughout town. A pump track located outside of town would not have the same benefits. For this reason it’s important to build active recreation like a pump track in this park. From an emissions point of view, active recreation located outside the city would likely generate more vehicle trips and thus more emissions than if the track was located in a place where users could bike to instead. There would be no need to pack bikes into a car and travel outside the city to recreate.
4. All ages and skill levels can learn in the same location
Users of pump tracks are of all ages and abilities. You need only travel to pump tracks in Elk Grover, Folsom and Truckee to see toddlers scooting around the track on their balance bikes, or parents and grandparents recreating alongside their children. Pump tracks are not too intimidating for a beginner or too easy for a professional rider.