Definition & Purpose
Wooden features are mainly used to bridge wet areas or pass over obstacles. They can be used as technical features as well.
Common wooden features:
- Bridges and boardwalk
- North shore, skinny, wallride
- Jump take off, landing platform, slopestyle features.
fig. 1: north shore
Important notices
- Wood is not a long-lasting material and should be avoided when building sustainable trails
- Wood can rot quickly and demands very regular inspections.
- Any feature higher than 680mm above ground level needs a side railing to prevent falling according to EU health and safety standards.
To consider when building wood features:
- Wood is a very slippery surface when wet and may require the application of a textured surface to make it safe for riders
- Wooden construction requires precision and accuracy (measure twice, cut once). A comparable dirt feature is easier to finetune and reshape.
Bridges
- Bridges are complex structures and should only be considered if no other suitable crossing solution is found.
- In most cases, it requires an engineer’s approval and a specific company to build the concrete bases and / or bridge features.
- Crossing into the river bed (a ford) can be made with stone pavement and in many cases happens to be an easier way of building.
- Don’t forget the stream crossing code
- stay out of streams and wetlands (if possible)
- if crossing is essential, build above the water with bridges and boardwalks
- if a bridge is not feasible, armor the crossing well
Further information about bridges
- https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/1324/files/Chapter%2016%20-%20Trail%20Bridges.FINAL.04.04.19.pdf
- https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/1324/files/Chapter%2013%20-%20Retaining%20Structures.FINAL.03.06.19.pdf
Wallride