Community leaders to unveil plans for a new West Philadelphia bicycle track

With help from Councilman Curtis Jones and The Bicycle Coalition, Parkside will be getting its very own bike track. Plans will be unveiled at an event scheduled for this afternoon at today’s Parkside Neighborhood Awareness Day.

As bicycling continues to gain popularity, new venues have been popping up to accommodate the interest. At a community event held today, Saturday, May 5, from 12 p.m. – 3 p.m., at 53rd & Parkside, residents will have the opportunity to see the plans for what will become their very own pumptrack. 

A pumptrack is a dirt loop shaped into a series of “rollers and berms,” or slopes and corners, that are designed so that cyclists can pump their way through, without pedaling. These tracks are about the size of a basketball court, and relatively inexpensive to build and maintain.

The Philly Pumptrack will be built from donations and grants, and will be free for all park visitors.