track on trial

Created: 09/13/2022, 10:00 am

By: Franziska Seliger

It doesn't matter whether it's a bike or a scooter: These young people have fun on the pump track that has just been set up on the Berghalde - on a trial basis for around two months.

© Seliger

The pump track on the Berghalde has been set up and can be used immediately - but only for a short time.

Then the train will be dismantled again.

And then?

Penzberg – Johannes, Josefa and their three friends are having a lot of fun.

in a rush, they jet on their bikes and scooters over the new pump track, which has just been set up on the Berghalde – right next to the Stockschützen square.

In June, the city decided to set up the circuit with waves, steep curves and jumping elements as a test on the leisure area not far from the festival square.

Now it is time.

Young people would like longer railway lines

"The railway is now ready for operation," says Johann Eßel from the civil engineering department in the Penzberg town hall when asked.

It can be navigated by young and old and with a wide variety of companions.

Not just with bicycles and scooters, like Johannes and his friends do.

Smaller children can also ride the route on their balance bikes;

as well as roller skaters.

"And it's really good with a skateboard," says Johannes.

Lap after lap, he and the other youngsters jet across the track and even try to lift their companions a bit into the air at the bends.

"It's really fun," says Johanna.

The young people of Penzberg are sure that the pump track is super cool.

Although: When the final track is built at some point, they think it could be a bit longer.

As Eßel says, the pump track is a system borrowed from a special provider that is to remain in place for two months.

"Then it will first be dismantled again."

Around 11,000 euros in rental fees

The total rental fee for the two months is around 11,000 euros, according to Mayor Stefan Korpan when asked.

The money comes from a donation pot that was created years ago specifically for the Berghalde.

The donation came from a private source.

Thanks to this donation pot, the borrowed system does not burden the budget, says Korpan.

With the trial operation, the city wants to find out, among other things, whether the location would be good for a permanent pump track railway.

Or how the offer is actually received by young people.

Therefore, feedback will also be obtained from users.

The head of the town hall is pleased that the railway is already being used diligently shortly after it goes into operation.

Because of the corona pandemic in particular, children and young people have recently had to cut back badly.

"They had little or no fun during that time."

Rebuilding maybe next spring

Korpan confirms the dismantling of the web after two months.

However, it may be set up again next spring “for test purposes”.

In the long term, the installation of a permanent pump track system is being considered - this is also what the leisure concept for the Berghalde presented last year envisages.

However, it will still take some time before this is implemented, says Korpan.

He expects around two years.

The idea for the pump track system originally goes back to an application by the FLP parliamentary group.