Hello,

So, I live in london. The riding is shit FACT. So I am trying to sort something out in a nearby park in West London. I kinda work in parks and councils so I know the score that this will be tough but has anyone any tips on building bike tracks/pump tracks/ dirt jumps in public places etc? This is risk assessment we have so far feel free to add:-

Activity
Unauthorised use of part of park by children and young adults on bicycles for BMX type activities.
Do significant Hazards exist?
Yes
Persons at Risk and hazards
Bicycle users
Collision with other users
Collision with static objects (trees)
Falls from bicycle
Collision with dogs
Falling deadwood or trees (exacerbated by digging around roots)
Other park users
Collision with bicycle users
slip or trip on ramp or berm or exposed tree roots
Falling deadwood or trees (exacerbated by digging around roots)
List of control measures
Restrict activity to particular area
Introduce signage to warn other users
Introduce signage to instruct users of facility
Explore possibilities of self policing or club
Agreed format and direction of rollers rather than jumps (design a specific pump track)
Tree inspection regime
Risk level
To be agreed (level of harm x likelihood of occurrence)

Implement Control measures
To be agreed

Any one any thoughts on this or the risk assessment? Or anything?

A risk assessment for an unauthorised activity? I shouldn't bother!
You approaching the council for an official site, or are you in the right department and wanting to develop a site? Oh, and digging up the roots around a tree to the point it might fall over doesn't happen does it?!?

edit- if the area is contained (fence or natural boundaries) that might reduce potential conflict…

Hi tracker,

At the mo its "unauthorised" but trying to make it safer and the future we are trying to set something more permanent in the park.

I work as a contractor in the parks department in a council but confusingly the site that the existing (illegitimate) jumps are on in a park that is shared between my Borough and the neighbours but I have a way in.

Re the trees, yeah i agree it doesnt happen but the bloke from the park (who is pretty sound for entertaining the idea) put it in and he is the expert!

nick

I think the tree risk as a result of digging around roots is a complete hostage to fortune and makes the project sound as if it is a mickey mouse idea. If you need to do any construction work or digging near trees then I would expect you will be required to adhere to the advice in BS5837 Trees and Construction which gives covers root protection areas etc – I reckon you'd be better just saying that any works would accord with that.

well Hamish Cheers for that, I work in festivals and this guy is from the parks so if he thinks its relevant I will take your advice and say we are working toward that.

Can I be picky and say thatFalls from bicycle and slip or trip on ramp or berm or exposed tree roots or
Falling deadwood or trees (exacerbated by digging around roots) are not hazards – being hit by the falling branches is a hazard; slipping/falling/tripping and hitting floor hard enough to injure in some way is a hazard/risk.

I would always use term risk rather than hazard.

Also, risk assessment is just that, an assessment. You sir have a risk management form, that says how you are to manage a risk.

*goes back to his 200+ pages of risk management for adventure activities*

Matt,

You can say that, and I promise I wont judge you.

Nick

There's a language to write these things in and maybe support from BC/ SE.
Where are you in west London?

Ealing daahling

pukka