Events and liability, what makes someone an ‘organiser’?

im surprised insurers have stipulated must have trackers, checkpoints etc – my experience is they are clueless and want you to follow some sort of “industry best practice” and risk assess and mitigate.

The insurers who are taking on some of these long-distance events seem to have enough experience of the format and options available to ask for these things now. I suppose that’s a step forward if you want to make a business out of racing or camping sportives. I don’t have much interest in getting into that sort of event management though.

Interesting, I’ve organised a fair number of events but never had an isolated policy for one event, rather a policy covering all our activities.   I wonder if another side benefit of Ltd co would be a general “public liability policy” which is aware of your general activities but doesn’t drill into every detail?  But all my events have alway been managed under the auspices of a “sport governing body” so they just expected us to follow their good practice guides.  I’m not sure how they would feel if your main event is outside the UK – certainly my company combined liability insurance covers product liability risks globally, it’s not cheap but is not actually as expensive as I expected.  I don’t know if it would, or would not, solve your EU rep problem.

The one year it happened with full cover was via the Ltd Co working as contractor to a larger events company who had an EU base, the Ltd Co had general PLI for that.

Being outside the EU with no Authorised Representative there makes it almost impossible to get direct cover via the Ltd Co only but the AR point could be resolved if someone wanted to go back down that road. Being outside established event norms and not being a staffed event also created questions for insurers. “What are you actually doing / insuring?”  “Just riding our bikes self-supported from a group start…?” “Is that an event?” .. and hence me thinking that somewhere in all this is a format and guidelines for an event that is not really an event. More of a happening, more easily managed and covered. But maybe not since it can look and sound like a kind of event.

@jameso if it helps I’m happy to liaise and organise a meet of some like-minded people who organise rides, there’s a few in the five valleys and surrounding area, might be good to share ideas, but i can’t help but think to be 100% you need solid legal advice.

Thanks Qwerty. Would be a good excuse to meet up. I’ve got a couple of potential ways ahead if this event was to re-start formally again, tbh I’m not sure if I can commit the time or resources though. Hence the low key nudge ideas. Happy to share resources and notes.

Negligence could be adding in a particularly steep, dangerous trail that’s out of character in the event or not taking out a badly damaged broken up road,

I’d be more worried about street furniture related to cycling infrastructure based on previous relevant experience…..;)

Was actually recounting the story last night. Seems a long long time ago.

You’d (IMO) need to make sure that proposed route did not take people on roads/ tracks that are closed to the general public for safety/ liability reasons….you could make reference to such sections  between X and Y taking the obvious track on mapping previously having been used in previous editions but are now closed by the municipality due to the risk of rockfall for example……

The avalanche risk by riding a potential route out of the usual time window should also not be underestimated….this is actually a real fear of mine…people think riding up and down a col which is still closed for the winter is a heroic feat, without being suitably knowledgeable and experienced to assess the risk….

I’d be more worried about street furniture related to cycling infrastructure based on previous relevant experience…..;)

Good luck contacting Turin authorities! : )

You’d (IMO) need to make sure that proposed route did not take people on roads/ tracks that are closed to the general public for safety/ liability reasons….

Yes the route’s been updated over the years due to this and because it’s almost impossible to know when somewhere will be closed the Terms of Entry used to simply state ‘obey traffic signs and closed road notices’, plus that the ride wasn’t a single-line event and riders should carry maps or GPS to re-route as needed.

Avalanche and rockfall risk are also highlighted as one of the self-evident risk examples. Along with sheep dogs, 4x4s coming round blind corners, the temp changes at altitude, bike worthiness .. etc.

Being outside established event norms and not being a staffed event also created questions for insurers. “What are you actually doing / insuring?”  “Just riding our bikes self-supported from a group start…?” “Is that an event?” .. and hence me thinking that somewhere in all this is a format and guidelines for an event that is not really an event.

Do you have times/results?  I know of one insurer (Howden) who treat competitions quite differently from activities that don’t have published results.

No published times, results or finisher lists, nothing. There are route options so there’s no FKT possible. It’s fully unracer. Is it worth me talking to Howdens?

Initial thoughts were op was going to roll a massuve sound system into a field and have a rave ……

I live in France. Have you tried involving the start village? Our village fete committee organises a couple of events – a mountain bike randonee (200+ people this year and 4 routes)  and a fun run (again 200+ people) – and has whatever public liability insurance is required in France. Riders and runners are much loved – to the point of cheese and wine at the feed stations – because, well, France. Villages are all different but running events seems to be generally supported & ‘don’t be a dick’ seems to get you a long way.

I know  a french organiser of long distance events…..there’s generally a need to contact every commune his events pass through….