[Closed] It had to happen - Strava litigation

A complete joke. I think they need to accept that the rider CHOSE to ride at the speeds he did and he didn't realize those speeds were beyond his skill level.

Set of knobs! I'm going to sue ancient Rome for bringing a network of roads to England next time I fall off

I agree. I edited a segment I created which crossed a road as I thought it was unfair on anyone trying to cross and getting held up, never crossed my mind that people would risk life and limb just for a KOM.
The only issue is that the previous KOM clearly wasn't happy at losing it so created the segment again.

They probably need to accept it is doing 50 mph in a 30 limit that killed him. Doing 50mph/80kmh on a bike freaks car drivers out in a 60 limit let alone 30.

Woah,like man ,those Strava dudes need to totalllleee get with the plan .They need to totallee risk assess every route on the planet man, and be sure to post up some big frickin warning signs of extreme caution.
Could be a little dudes face next time man.

safety first. I still managed to get the KOM on that segment into Dorking while stopping for traffic before it dissappeared. I was surprised to find out that the segment crossed a junction. so set up a segment that ends at the bottom of the descent at the left turn towards ashcombe school as an alternative.

It's all a choice, i have always smashed downthat descent without braking, it's just interesting to see that ido it at 43mph average, topspeed 52mph:)

There is also [url= http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303410404577466990820318610.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_5#articleTabs=article ]this[/url], linked to from Strava's facebook today

be interesting to see how this pans out.

Should Strava be held legaly responsible no.

Is the Strava concept flawed? Possibly. In theory it doesn't do anything that a time trial doesn't do and they are a sensible and legal means of competition. On the other hand encouraging bike racing on public roads without any kind of organisation or course testing is risky.

So is it correct that this Strava segment relied on you exceeding the speed limit to get KOM? That sounds like a bad idea

How would we feel if Strava opened a section for cars and motor bikes. Would we trust the riders and drivers to be safe rather than fast?

dave - Sorry about that, but I just felt there was a chance (however slight) of someone taking a chance on that right turn. I think someone has flagged your new segment now (which I think was fine), Im guessing they dont like the tip traffic?

That tip traffic was there a long time before Strava, as was bombing down that descent like a hoon. We know the risks.

Persnoally I'm suing the inventor of the wheel.

I'm almost not surprised although saddened.

I'm having a trial seperation from Strava right now as I was very tempted to try to regain a KOM of mine - but then thought better of it as the segment really wasn't suitable for the speeds that would have been required. It was a narrow footpath along a railing'd section of river and crossed a couple of main roads. Pedestrians quite legitimately made use of it as did dog walkers etc. It really shouldn't have been a timed segment at all, and no, I didn't create it.

I appreciate Strava for the good things it can be as it's a lot of fun racing new people that aren't going to go easy on you, but it does need to used with a bit of responsibility and a firm grip on the idea that a given segment isn't going to be a closed racetrack unless you have taken steps to make it one.

A bike at 30+mph into an unprotected pedestrian (whether a child or adult) has a lot of damage potential, and while noone wants to suck the fun out of biking, I don't think anyone here wants the popular press and the government involved either. Kneejerk legislation is never good.

I've also heard arguments around potential land ownership/right of access issues - from a point of view of Strava having the potential to highlight the use of places that bikes are being allowed on sufferance in the belief that it's a few kids and not worth stopping.

as i said, been bombing that descent for years, live in dorking, and it puts a smile on my face:)

I could flag loads of stuff, my mate is second fastest on 'yoghurt pots' but the fastest time is 16 seconds faster. there is no way that someone is that fast down there.

one of the segments on my route home is called 'the holland park traffic weave' or something- i did think it was asking for trouble!

If you want to race, go racing. Everyday roads and trails are not races.

Is that why they published this on their site i wonder?
http://blog.strava.com/stand-with-us-4923/

The one going down the other side (past St Barnabus) got flagged too. **** knows why, I came across some mentalists in the middle of the road down there once, but I dont think they could be considered a permanent hazard. Presumably someone tried to go fast and got a runny bottom at some point.

a new segment has appeared - it is now called 'watch out for the hairpin' 😀

Strava only automatically generates segments for climbs, and then only for something significant. Anything else has been generated by a Strava user, so I'd guess that there's no liability for Strava. The creators of the software can hardly be held responsible for segments that are at best irresponsible or for those who chose to take stupid risks for a pixellated KoM award.

If you want to race, go racing

+1

You guys that get KOMs, are you race-fit?

KILL ON the MOUNTAIN

CaptainFlashheart - Member

If you want to race, go racing. Everyday roads and trails are not races.

+1

find it a bit odd that you are racing imaginary people on open trails and roads for the virtual prize of being the fastest without knowing whether or not the "fastest" guy has cheated by taking shorcuts.

i find it a bit odd and sad....

If you want to race, go racing. Everyday roads and trails are not races.

Not as simple as that really, but I get your point. TT's are an obvious exception.
But then we've got the celebrated Richmond Park 3 lap challenge. And alleycats.

It's not just a strava problem, but has a lot to do with the changing nature, and popularity of cycling, and the marketing of cycling as a competitive pursuit, not recreational.

im with flashy and dicky on this, if you want to race, then go racing.
this is a bit like those people who 'win' sportives.

So you've never ridden as fast as you can up a hill or down a trail? You must be really really boring.

So you've never ridden as fast as you can up a hill or down a trail? You must be really really boring.

Yes, I have quite often - it hasn't stopped me from being boring though

So you have ridden as fast as you can up ahill or down a trail ? - wow, you must be [i][b]electric[/b][/i]

It's not just a strava problem, but has a lot to do with the changing nature, and popularity of cycling, and the marketing of cycling as a competitive pursuit, not recreational.

it's actually the sportive's and mtb "challenges" that are the issue real racers race in real races, Strava is for those who dare not line upon the start line

real races are in controlled environments, with full risk assessments, insurance, signage and first aid coverage. They also have to obey the law of the land or they get stopped.

Yes, I have quite often - it hasn't stopped me from being boring though

so what's the difference between that and doing it with an invisible stopwatch?

They must have a disclaimer on the site somewhere ?

so what's the difference between that and doing it with an invisible stopwatch

apparently that would make me both awesome & interesting 😯

I looked at this strava and quickly concluded there was no accuracy involved whatsoever and therefore it was pointless.

am i wrong?

dirk_pumpa - Member

I looked at this strava and quickly concluded there was no accuracy involved whatsoever and therefore it was pointless.

am i wrong?

big_n_daft - Member

Strava is for those who dare not line upon the start line

Absolute mince tbh, most of the racers I know use Strava.

it's actually the sportive's and mtb "challenges" that are the issue real racers race in real races, Strava is for those who dare not line upon the start line

Strange you didn't call me to ask, or any of the other people who race and use it as a training tool.

I looked at this strava and quickly concluded there was no accuracy involved whatsoever and therefore it was pointless.

am i wrong?

Probably depends on your GPS, on my HTC Desire it seems quite good. Double checked a few with the Go-Pro I was using at the time.

Ultimately the blame lies with individual. Opening screen says don't do stupid things.....

Yet another sad result of the where there is an accident there is blame and therefore a claim.

I hope they get it thrown out.

All we can cling to is that Darwin is taking effect.

To be honest it was only a matter of time.

I came up with a concept very similar to Strava many years ago when working on car navigation system concepts. You could log a start and finish point, eg on your favourite section of your journey home from work, and the GPS would log your fastest journey and you could race a virtual car re-running that journey on your satnav screen.

We did discuss uploading the logs for others to try and beat but it I considered it irresponsible enough to just let drivers use it to race their own best time let alone upload it for others to compete against.

I keep wondering if I will come up against a mountain biker on a Strava run when walking my dog.....

Keep it as a training tool and don't abuse it.

Is the Strava concept flawed? Possibly. In theory it doesn't do anything that a time trial doesn't do

Except there's a shed load of paperwork to fill out before anyone goes tanking off, risk assessment, police reports, marshals etc.

Personally I can't stand Strava. It's no substitute for racing. It's no substitute for 'proper' training and I don't even want a wrist watch when I'm out riding for pleasure.
A man died trying to impress the internet, very very sad.

A man died trying to impress the internet, very very sad.

This.

Read the OP's link now - not surprised any more, the legal action is in the USA...

i'm using the comments about Strava to sort the posters into 'fast' and 'slow'

Being 'fast' seems to justify one hell of a lot of crap to some

How does it differ from trying to catch or out run your mate on a trail?

Or should that be banned to?

A man died trying to impress the internet, very very sad.

this and unfortunately,

the legal action is in the USA...

together make it understandable it is happening. Its what starts when people suspend their accepted knowledge of right and wrong then try to shift responsibility.

One of links draws a parallel of attempting to start a legal action against car speedo manufacturers who make speedo's that go over the legal limit, when they got caught for speeding... "The speedo made me do it..."

Aye, right....

Any form of racing that encourages folk to take risks is dangerous.