Santa Cruz May Get a Bicycle Pump Track

Santa Cruz may build the county's second pump track, a place for BMX riders to practice pumping over hills, grass and sand in the city's westside.

The city council will talk about the proposal at its 3 p.m. meeting Tuesday.

The proposal was offered by community members and developer William Ow, who will lease the land for the track to the city for only $1 a year. He told the city the land at 100 Western Dr. should be available for 3-5 years.

The city would have to pay for a portable restroom and garbage clean-up.

Another pump track in Aptos has been a big success, according to its sponsors at Epicenter Cycling, the bicycle shop near the track, located at the entrance to Nisene Marks State Park. You can find a description of the track's successes here, written by racer and shop owner Shawn Wilson. He says it has been a community project, built by riders for riders; a place for families to gather; a place where birthday parties are celebrated and the fact that all ages can use it without causing noise or pollution. 

The Santa Cruz Planning Commission and the city's staff suggested that the city council approve the project.

They are called pump tracks, by the way, because riders pump their shock absorbers a lot to get around them.