What $4.72M Bought: Burnaby’s New Bike Skills Park

The Mountain Air Bike Skills Course sits in the Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area and is free to use. The rebuilt facility is explicitly progressive: zones let riders roll many features before jumping, use bypasses around gaps, and advance through pumping, cornering, jumping and line‑choice skills in stages. The site contains a children's pump track, a full‑size asphalt pump track and asphalt slopestyle lines for downhill practice, plus dedicated dirt‑jump lines for advanced riders.

Beyond the riding lines, the project included spectator/gathering areas, bike racks, a bike‑wash station and water service. The city also put in signage to indicate permitted users (scooters, skateboards and rollerblades in specific areas) and to stress safety — the course is unsupervised and the site closes seasonally from Oct. 31 to Apr. 15 while Burnaby evaluates wet‑season impacts.

Municipal projects bundle site preparation, engineered structures, civil works, amenities and contingency. Based on standard municipal cost lines and the scale of Mountain Air, here’s an approximate allocation of the $4.72M (rounded):

• Site prep & earthworks (20%) — ~$944,000: heavy equipment, mass cuts/fills, access roads and temporary erosion control.
• Drainage & stormwater (10%) — ~$472,000: sub‑surface drains, culverts, catch basins and infiltration systems to protect dirt features and asphalt in rainy seasons.
• Asphalt pump tracks & slopestyle surfaces (12%) — ~$566,000: milling, base course, asphalt paving, tack coats and painted lane markings.
• Dirt jumps & shaping (10%) — ~$472,000: engineered soil mixes, compaction, drainage layers and contractor shaping using tracked excavators.
• Structural elements (retaining walls, stairs) (8%) — ~$378,000.
• Amenities (bathrooms, bike wash, seating, bike racks) (10%) — ~$472,000.
• Design, permitting & engineering fees (12%) — ~$566,000: geotechnical studies, civil engineering, landscape architecture and contract administration.
• Landscaping & environmental mitigation (6%) — ~$283,000: replanting, erosion mats, habitat buffers in the conservation area.
• Contingency, permits & contractor margins (12%) — ~$566,000.

These percentages are illustrative, but they show how quickly civil and drainage costs add up on a sloped, conservation‑area site — often as much or more than the visible features riders love.

Burnaby’s design emphasizes progression: children's areas separated from advanced lines, bypasses to reduce forced jumping, and staged features that develop pumping, cornering and airtime skills. That human‑centered design requires careful grading and geometry: run‑out zones, approach angles and sightlines need engineering input so features can be rolled or jumped safely.

Sustainability and durability were also key. Asphalt pump tracks require proper sub‑grade and drainage to survive freeze/thaw cycles and BC rains. Dirt jumps were built with engineered soil mixes and drainage trenches to keep faces intact. The design included observation zones and seating to encourage spectatorship while protecting riding lines from foot traffic and erosion.

What you don’t see drives cost: geotechnical borings, retaining structures, erosion control, stormwater management and utility works. On Burnaby Mountain, the steep, forested site means more rock removal, retaining walls, and extra stabilization work than a flat park — that’s why site prep and engineering fees consume such a large slice of the budget.

Materials choices matter too. Asphalt pump track surfaces are typically a 150–300mm engineered base and a 40–60mm dense asphalt surface mix for a smooth, durable ride. Dirt lines use compacted, non‑plastic soils and locally sourced clay/sand mixes to form stable lips and tabletops. Investing in these base systems increases upfront cost but reduces annual maintenance needs.

Municipal ownership includes more than construction — the city must operate, maintain and program the facility. Amenities at Mountain Air include bathrooms, bike wash, water, bike racks and picnic/seating areas. Those elements help attract families and make the site usable for longer sessions, but they add utility costs and periodic upkeep.

Burnaby’s seasonal closure policy (Oct. 31–Apr. 15) highlights another tradeoff: keeping asphalt pump tracks usable year‑round in a wet climate requires increased maintenance spending and staffing. Municipalities often monitor usage patterns for a season or two before deciding whether to open facilities through winter, which can affect total lifecycle costs by tens to hundreds of thousands per year depending on staffing and repair cycles.

How do you judge a $4.72M project? Look at community access, participation, safety outcomes and local economic impacts. A free, well‑designed facility reduces barriers to entry, provides safe progression for youth, and can host lessons or events that generate local spending. Municipal parks also shift some riding away from unauthorized or fragile trails, protecting other conservation areas.

Practical measures of success include: rider counts (peak and off‑peak), program enrollments (lessons, clinics), incident reports, and maintenance costs per year. If Burnaby’s facility meets high utilization with manageable maintenance, the upfront expense can be justified as long‑term community infrastructure rather than a one‑off vanity project.

Visiting Mountain Air? Pack for skill development and safety. Essentials: a properly fitting helmet, gloves, knee and elbow protection for dirt jumps, and a bike in good working order. For kids and progressions, consider a full‑face helmet only on advanced dirt lines; a certified trail helmet is fine for pump tracks and slopestyle practice.

Product picks and specs we recommend:

• Helmet: Bell Super Air MIPS for enduro/dirt jumps (lightweight, removable chin bar) or Giro Fixture for pump track sessions.
• Pads: G-Form Pro‑X elbow and knee pads — flexible in motion, harden on impact, good for progression riders.
• Shoes: Five Ten Trailcross SPD for grip on pedals; flat‑pedal riders can opt for Five Ten Freerider.
• Portable pump & tyre care: Lezyne Pressure Drive for tubeless top‑ups; Dynaplug or Genuine Innovations for quick tubeless repairs.
• Bike wash & maintenance: Muc‑Off Bike Cleaner, a soft brush set, and a compact Park Tool IB‑3 shop stand for roadside tweaks after a session.

Before showing up, check the Burnaby facility page for seasonal closures and parking rules: Burnaby Mountain Air Bike Skills Course.

Is the Mountain Air Bike Skills Course free to use?

Yes. Burnaby lists the Mountain Air Bike Skills Course as a free, public facility. There are no admission fees, but users must follow site rules and respect seasonal closures (typically Oct. 31 to Apr. 15 while the city assesses wet‑season impacts).

What does Burnaby’s $4.72M actually pay for?

The total covers site prep and earthworks, engineered drainage and stormwater systems, asphalt pump tracks and slopestyle lines, shaped dirt jumps, structural retaining works, amenities (restrooms, bike wash, bike racks), landscape mitigation, and design/engineering fees — plus contingency. Much of the budget goes to civil work and drainage to make the facility durable.

Are there areas for beginners and kids?

Yes. The design includes a children's pump track and progression zones where riders can roll features before attempting jumps. Bypasses around major gaps and staged lines let less experienced riders move through skills without being forced to jump.

What safety gear should I use at the park?

Wear a certified helmet (trail helmet for pump track, full‑face for big dirt jumps if you’re going airborne), gloves, and pads for knees and elbows when progressing. Inspect your bike beforehand — brakes, tyres and quick releases — and ride within your skill level.

Can I bring a scooter or skateboard?

Small‑wheeled users such as scooters, skateboards and rollerblades are permitted in specified areas as indicated by site signage. Watch for user etiquette and keep to designated zones so riders don’t mix dangerously.

How will Burnaby measure whether the project was worth $4.72M?

Municipal success metrics usually include usage counts, program enrollments, incident and repair logs, community feedback, and maintenance costs over several seasons. If high usage and manageable maintenance offset the upfront cost and the facility reduces pressure on unauthorized trails, it’s typically judged successful.

Is parking allowed for non‑users or visitors just exploring nearby areas?

Burnaby notes that the Mountain Air parking lot is for course users only; parking and then using other nearby amenities is not permitted. Visitors should use designated parking for other park areas.