At ActiveSafe, we believe that physical activity is essential for a healthy lifestyle. However, we also recognise that safety concerns can deter individuals from engaging in activities such as running, cycling,swimming, and walking in public spaces.
Below, we share some of the experiences and challenges faced by individuals and communities when it comes to outdoor exercise and safety. The stories highlight the importance of creating safer environments for everyone to enjoy physical activity without fear. The names and locations have been changed to protect privacy.
Through community engagement, data collection, and collaboration with local authorities, we aim to identify and address safety concerns, promote awareness, and implement effective solutions that foster a safer environment for all individuals to enjoy outdoor exercise.
During a morning swim at a popular coastal spot, I noticed a group on the pier throwing stones into the water near where I was swimming. When I waved my arms to show them I was there, they started aiming closer to me and laughing. I had to cut my session short and swim further out to sea to get around them to the slipway, feeling completely unsafe and targeted for just trying to exercise.
While I was following a public right of way near a farm, a dog suddenly bolted out and bit me on the leg. The owner witnessed the entire incident but didn't apologise or offer any assistance, simply calling the dog back and heading inside without a word.
The bite was serious enough to require a trip to A&E for a tetanus booster and a course of antibiotics. Due to the unprovoked nature of the attack and the owner's total lack of accountability, I have reported the matter to the police and will be avoiding that trail for the foreseeable future.
While out on a long trail ride, I got a flat tyre in a pretty remote section. I was trying to fix it when a group of mountain bikers came along and offered to help. They had the tools and know-how to get me back on the trail quickly, and they even waited around to make sure I was okay before they continued on their way. It was such a generous and unexpected act of kindness that really made my day.
I usually walk to the office along the canal towpath to hit my step goal before the day starts. Last Tuesday, the path felt particularly isolated, and I noticed a few people loitering under one of the bridges who were making loud, pointed comments as I walked through the echo. Even though they didn't follow me, the lack of exits and the fact that there were no other commuters around made the whole stretch feel quite intimidating. I've started taking the longer route through the town centre instead, as I prefer being where there are more people and better lighting.
I was out for a run in the city when I passed a group of people sitting outside a café. One of them called out to me and complimented my running shoes, which made me smile and feel good about myself. It was such a small gesture, but it really brightened my day and made me feel more connected to the community around me.
I was finishing a 5km loop around my neighbourhood at about 7:00 pm. It was dusk, and though the streetlights were on, a group of people standing by a parked car started shouting comments about my outfit as I passed. When I didn't respond, one of them began to follow me on foot for about 100 yards, whistling and mocking my pace. I had to duck into a local petrol station and wait for twenty minutes until I felt sure they had moved on. It has made me rethink my training routes on darker evenings entirely.
During a morning swim at a coastal spot, I got caught in a strong current and started to panic. A group of surfers nearby noticed and paddled over to help me out. They calmly guided me back to shore and made sure I was safe before they went back to their session. It was such a relief to have those good Samaritans there when I needed them, and it really restored my faith in the kindness of strangers.
I was out for a steady evening run when I noticed a group of teenage boys hovering near the path ahead. As I passed them they started running directly behind me, matching my pace.
They were laughing and whispering to each other, deliberately mimicking my running style in a way that felt pointedly intimidatory. Every time I tried to speed up to create some distance, they would speed up too. It's a very unnerving feeling to have people looming over your shoulder when you're trying to focus on your breathing. In the end, I had to stop completely and pretend to check my watch just to force them to pass, before taking a sharp turn down a different street to get away from the situation. It was completely uncalled for and made me feel very unwelcome in a space I use every week.
I was doing a solo 5k at my local park when I started to struggle with the pace. A group of fellow runners who were doing their own session nearby noticed and started shouting encouragement as I passed by. They cheered me on for the entire lap, and even though I was exhausted, their support gave me a boost to finish strong. It was such a heartwarming experience to feel that sense of community and kindness from strangers while out exercising.
While out on a Sunday morning ride, I was navigating a narrow, wooded section of a public bridleway. A hiker coming the other way deliberately stepped into my path to block me, despite there being plenty of room to pass safely. They began an aggressive confrontation, shouting about 'cyclists ruining the paths', and wouldn't let me through until I threatened to call the police. Being isolated in the woods made the aggression feel much more threatening than it would have on a main road.
Our group was mid-session, working through a set of demanding hill reps. It's a challenging climb that requires a lot of concentration, but the atmosphere was great until a black Mercedes began driving alongside us.
The driver and occupants started shouting out of the windows at us. While we couldn't identify any specific offensive language, the shouting was loud, aggressive, and entirely uncalled for. Having a vehicle linger next to a group of people working hard on a steep incline felt incredibly intimidating and created a genuine safety concern for us. It turned what should have been a focused, supportive team workout into a very uncomfortable situation, leaving everyone feeling unsettled for the remainder of the evening.