Pump Track Academy
School, council and recreation planning workbook
How to use this workbook
Work through only the modules relevant to the project. Record confirmed decisions, unresolved questions and information still needed. The live Academy can save the same decisions into Your Facility Plan and My Apollo Project.
This is a planning workbook, not a construction drawing, professional design, accreditation or approval document.
Define the riders and operating model
Start with age groups, skill range, wheeled activities, supervision and opening hours before choosing a track layout.
□ Who will use the facility: beginners, mixed-age public users or experienced riders?
□ Will bikes, BMX, scooters, skateboards and balance bikes share the track?
□ Is use supervised, open-access, school-only or event-based?
Measure the usable site, not just the boundary
Map buildings, paths, trees, services, slopes, drainage, vehicle access and neighbouring uses to establish the real planning envelope.
□ What area remains after physical and service constraints are mapped?
□ Where can riders enter and leave without conflicts?
□ Is there space for waiting, viewing and later expansion?
Choose the layout family around the site
Use compact pump cycles, loops and larger flow layouts as site-planning tools rather than selecting a model by size alone.
□ Does the project need an entry-level compact loop or a larger progression layout?
□ How does the track envelope fit with clear zones and circulation?
□ Can the selected layout be expanded logically later?
Plan the base and site preparation
Treat the supporting surface, levels, settlement risk and local civil works as part of the facility before installation is frozen.
□ What surface exists now?
□ Is the site stable and appropriately prepared for the modular system?
□ What local grading, civil work or anchoring is required?
Give drainage a positive route
Plan water movement through and away from the recreation area rather than expecting the modular track to solve an unresolved drainage problem.
□ Where does stormwater currently flow?
□ Are low points or soft areas present?
□ How will the surrounding surface remain usable after rain?
Design rider flow, entry and exit
Make the riding direction intuitive and keep waiting riders, pedestrians and spectators out of the active riding line.
□ Is the riding direction obvious from the entry?
□ Where do riders queue before entering the circuit?
□ Can riders exit without crossing the incoming flow?
Plan supervision and sightlines
Shape the facility so teachers, parents, staff or public-space users can understand what is happening without standing inside the riding zone.
□ Where are the key supervision points?
□ Are blind spots created by landscaping or surrounding structures?
□ Can adults watch without blocking paths or rider flow?
Use modularity and staged expansion deliberately
Preserve access and logical space for future modules so reconfiguration and growth remain genuine benefits rather than theoretical features.
□ What is the sensible first-stage track size?
□ Where could later modules extend the circuit?
□ Will relocation or temporary use ever be required?
Plan the public realm around the track
Coordinate paths, bike parking, seating, shade, drinking water, repair points, signage and landscaping around the riding line.
□ What amenities improve everyday use of the site?
□ How will accessible paths connect to the facility?
□ Can seating and gathering areas sit outside conflict zones?
Match the facility to schools, councils and community use
Adapt the same modular system to different supervision, access, participation, lifecycle and public-space requirements.
□ Who owns daily supervision and facility management?
□ Is access controlled or open to the public?
□ What surrounding school, park or community uses must be protected?
Plan inspection, maintenance and lifecycle ownership
Define how connections, fixings, riding surfaces, drainage and damaged components will be inspected, recorded and maintained.
□ Who performs routine inspections?
□ How will damaged modules or fixings be replaced?
□ How are drainage, cleaning and surrounding-site issues recorded?
Build the pump-track project brief
Bring rider groups, site, layout, base, drainage, access, supervision, amenities and future stages into one coordinated brief.
□ Are the available footprint and existing surface documented?
□ Which layout family or size range is preferred?
□ What local civil, installation, accessibility and approval responsibilities remain outside product supply?
Facility Plan summary
Use this page to consolidate the project before moving into the Sports Project Brief.