Expo pump track

The Expo pump track sits at the river end of Parque das Nações, the district built for Expo 98, with the Vasco da Gama Bridge stretching away over the Tagus behind it. It opened on 19 October 2020, and when NiT covered the opening it was described as the largest pump track of its kind in Portugal and one of the largest in Europe. It’s free, it’s open to the public, and there’s a separate small loop for children who are still learning.

A pump track is a closed loop of asphalt bumps (called rollers) and banked corners (berms). The trick is that you barely pedal. Riders push the bike down into each dip and let it float up over each bump, and that pumping movement keeps them going, a bit like a child on a swing working their legs. The International Cycling Union recognised pump track as a discipline in 2018, which is why the Lisbon track has hosted international races.

There are two separate loops, both built by Velosolutions, the Swiss company behind pump tracks all over the world.

• The learning track is about 80 metres long, with 14 rollers and 4 banked corners. This is where younger children and nervous riders start. The bumps come one after another, so it’s a good place to practise the pumping movement at low speed.
• The main track is about 300 metres long, with 47 rollers and 12 banked corners. It’s built to competition standard, and it’s fast. Experienced teenagers and adults use it for flowing laps and jumps.

The main loop has hosted the Red Bull UCI Pump Track World Championships qualifier. Lisbon held the qualifying round three years in a row, with the 2022 edition on 8 October, and spectators got in free. Watching one of these races is a good way for a bike-mad child to see what the track can do.

The sources describe it as a track for bikes and BMX, and lisboa.events calls the small loop adapted for young cyclists and BMX riders. A child who can ride a pedal bike confidently, brake and steer on their own will get something out of the learning track. Children who’ve just come off stabilisers may find the constant ups and downs tiring, so try a few gentle laps first.

The main track suits confident, experienced riders. It gets busy with fast adults, and pump tracks are one-way loops, so small children on the big loop can end up in the path of quicker riders.

We couldn’t find a published rule on scooters, skateboards or inline skates on the track. Check the signs at the entrance before you bring anything other than a bike.

• Wear a helmet. Gloves help too, because falls on asphalt scrape hands.
• Ride in the direction everyone else is going and don’t stop on the track. Wait at the edge to join and look before you drop in.
• Keep little ones on the learning loop, where speeds are lower.
• Summer afternoons are hot and there’s little shade on the track itself. Mornings and early evenings are cooler.
• Quieter times, when fewer fast riders are about, are easier for beginners.

According to Lisboa Secreta, the pump track sits next to the park’s skatepark, and Time Out lists the two together as the Expo skatepark and pump track. Time Out calls the skatepark a popular spot with its own community of regulars. Older children with a skateboard or scooter can use the skatepark while a sibling rides the loops, though beginners should expect to share it with teenagers and adults. For lessons, Manolas Skate School teaches children from age 4 at skateparks around Lisbon.

We couldn’t find published opening hours, lighting details or information on toilets at the track itself, so treat it as an open-air space for daylight riding. Bring water, sun cream and a snack. The riverside promenade through Parque das Nações is flat, so younger children can bring balance bikes or scooters for the ride along the river even if they don’t use the track.

The Parque das Nações district is served by Oriente station (metro, train and buses). The pump track is at the northern end, by the bridge, so allow time to walk or cycle up from the station.

The pump track is at one end of a district full of things to do with children, and a morning on the bikes pairs well with an indoor afternoon:

• The Oceanário de Lisboa, the big aquarium on the water, for a rainy or scorching afternoon.
• The Pavilhão do Conhecimento, the hands-on science centre.
• The Telecabine Lisboa, the riverside cable car.
• Railroad Caffé, a train-themed café in Parque das Nações.

Is the Expo pump track in Lisbon free?

Yes. It’s a public track in Parque das Nações and there’s no charge to ride.

Is there a pump track for small children in Lisbon?

Yes. The Expo pump track has its own children’s learning loop of about 80 metres, separate from the 300-metre main track, so younger riders don’t have to share the fast loop.

Can my child ride a scooter on the pump track?

The sources we found describe it as a bike and BMX track and don’t mention scooters. Check the signs on site before riding anything other than a bike.

Do children need a helmet?

We found no published rule for this track, but wear one. Falls happen on pump tracks, and the surface is asphalt.

Where exactly is the pump track?

At the northern end of Parque das Nações, by the Tagus and the Vasco da Gama Bridge, next to the skatepark. Visit Lisboa gives the address as Passeio do Tejo, 1990-281 Lisboa.