A cyclist says she suffered a broken arm after a Parkrun participant cut into a cycle lane and knocked her off her bike during Saturday’s Swansea Bay run, the incident coming just two weeks after the volunteer-run event’s organisers apologised for participants directing “abusive language” at cyclists and pedestrians and “barging” a female rider on her way to work.
Speaking to WalesOnline, a 27-year-old cyclist who asked to remain anonymous said they suffered a broken arm in a crash caused by a runner cutting into a cycle lane during the Swansea Bay Parkrun on Saturday (9 August). The injured woman suggested the free running event had now become “dangerous” and said it was “disappointing that the personal best is worth more than stopping”, that after the runner responsible apparently did not stop after the collision.
Saturday’s Swansea Bay Parkrun saw more than 600 participants complete the 5km course, which uses a shared-use route, pictures on the event’s website showing participants running on a stretch with a designated cycle route running parallel to a pedestrian path. Some have questioned the suitability of the route, which is narrow in points, the event’s organisers recently confirming that it does not pay for an exclusive right to the path and the volunteer-run event relies on participants cooperating with the public using the path at the same time.
Two weeks ago Swansea Bay Parkrun’s organisers apologised for what they described as the worst feedback in the event’s history, including multiple reports of runners directing “abusive language” at cyclists and “barging” a female cyclist on her commute.
The organisers called out the behaviour of “a minority” of participants and said there had been “significant disregard of the shared path etiquette”.Â
“It’s a brilliant event and getting people outdoors is so important, but it needs to be done in a way that’s safe for everyone”
A week and a half on from that statement and the latest incident has been reported, raising more questions about runners’ behaviour and the suitability of the route along shared-use paths open to the public. We have contacted Swansea Bay Parkrun for comment about the latest allegation, but had not received a reply at the time of publishing.
“I was on the side of the path reserved for cyclists when a runner who might have seen an opportunity to overtake a slower group and without looking, jumped on to the cycling side of the path,” the cyclist told WalesOnline.
“He did this very suddenly, and I was unable to avoid him. As such we were involved in a high impact crash and I came off my bike. It’s disappointing that the personal best is worth more than stopping and checking the person you’ve just hit to the ground’s alright — especially after the organisers issued the apology and kind of had a word with all these runners, that behaviour still seems to be an issue.
“If people are going to be doing this sort of thing, it’s just not safe. There needs to be a shared code of respect — there’s a white line down the middle of the path for a reason.”
The cyclist did save praise for the volunteers marshalling the Parkrun who were “absolutely brilliant” and gave medical attention before helping her home, however the rider says she’s been “frustrated” by the subsequent response since reporting the incident to the event’s organisers.
“They apologised and said they were looking at ways to change things,” she explained. “It’s disappointing that these issues haven’t been mitigated already despite it being brought up multiple times. I think it’s outgrown the space it is held in. It’s a lot of people to be going down quite a small stretch of path really.
“It’s a brilliant event and getting people outdoors is so important, but it needs to be done in a way that’s safe for everyone. If what had happened to me happened to a child or someone who’s a bit older, it could’ve caused some really serious damage.”
The incident is likely to be an uncomfortable one for the event’s organisers who just two weeks ago were warning participants to avoid “behaviour which puts our Parkrun at risk”, that after the aforementioned reports of abuse and barging members of the public out the way.
A statement put out at the time said: “We are really sad to report that we have received several reports today — from participants, from marshals and from two members of the public — about the conduct of a minority of participants today.
“In particular, abusive language towards cyclists, barging of a female member of the public on her way to work and significant disregard of the shared path etiquette. The nature of each of these incidents is such that they have been logged and reported to Parkrun HQ. It is likely that the complainants will take the matters up with both Parkrun HQ and with Swansea Council.
“As a core team, supported by four dozen volunteers we are at a loss as to what more we can do or say to reinforce the need to ‘share with care and kindness’. We do not pay for the right to have exclusive use of the path — the first timers’ welcome and the run director’s briefing all emphasise this. As have many posts on our Facebook page and website. (The most recent following a similar report on the 12th April this year).
“As event directors and run directors we are having to respond to, very understandably, disgruntled path users. We apologise to them, we explain what we do to try and ensure all path users are safe and can enjoy use of a community asset — what else can we do?! It is so upsetting to receive feedback and reports like we have today — today is the worst it has been ever.
“As a core team we are feeling really disappointed and despondent — Parkrun should be a joy, something positive, something inspirational, something inclusive. For us as a core team, it’s more than just going home after a run, jog, walk, wheel or push… we’re still sorting the results, dealing with queries, planning for next week, filling the roster, updating the Risk Assessments, fundraising for new kit, washing the pacer bibs and volunteer vests … and sadly today, responding to these complaints about the behaviour of our participants.
“If you love Parkrun, if you value what it offers you and our community we need your help — we need you to share with care and kindness and encourage and support others to do so — or our event will be lost.”
Swansea Bay Parkrun’s organisers have been contacted for comment on the latest allegation.