Strava: How to Report Activities, Reasons, and Outcomes

How Do I Report a Ride on Strava?

Reporting a ride on Strava is a straightforward process designed to help maintain the integrity and positive environment of the platform. It allows users to flag activities that violate Strava's Community Standards, contain incorrect data, or are otherwise inappropriate.

Understanding Strava's Reporting System

Strava, as a leading social fitness platform, relies on its community to uphold data accuracy and respectful interactions. The reporting system is a crucial tool for users to flag content that deviates from these standards. This ensures that leaderboards remain fair, personal data is protected, and the overall user experience is positive and motivating. Reporting is a confidential action, meaning the person who filed the report remains anonymous to the reported user.

Step-by-Step Guide to Reporting an Activity on Strava

The process for reporting an activity is similar whether you are using the Strava mobile app or the web browser.

On the Strava Mobile App (iOS & Android)

1. Locate the Activity: Open the Strava app and navigate to the specific activity you wish to report. This can be an activity from your feed, a club feed, or directly from a user's profile.
2. Access Options Menu: Tap the "..." (three dots) icon, usually located in the top right corner of the activity screen.
3. Select 'Report': From the dropdown menu, choose the "Report" option.
4. Choose Reason: You will be presented with a list of reasons for reporting. Select the one that best describes your concern (e.g., "Inappropriate Activity," "Incorrect Data," "Cheating," "Privacy Violation," "Spam").
5. Add Details (Optional but Recommended): A text field will appear where you can provide more specific details about why you are reporting the activity. This helps Strava's moderation team understand the issue more clearly.
6. Submit Report: Tap "Submit" or "Send" to complete the process.

On the Strava Web Browser

1. Navigate to the Activity: Go to strava.com and log in. Find the activity you wish to report, either through your feed, a club page, or by directly visiting the athlete's profile.
2. Find the 'More Options' Icon: On the activity page, look for the "..." (three dots) icon or a wrench icon, typically located on the right side of the activity details, near the top.
3. Select 'Report Activity': Click on "Report Activity" from the dropdown menu.
4. Choose Reason: A pop-up window will appear with various reasons for reporting. Select the most appropriate category.
5. Add Details (Optional but Recommended): Provide additional information in the text box to clarify your report.
6. Submit Report: Click the "Submit" button to finalize your report.

Common Reasons for Reporting a Strava Activity

Understanding why you might report an activity is key to using the feature responsibly and effectively.

• Incorrect Data: This is often used for activities with clear GPS errors, impossible speeds (e.g., a cyclist recording 100 mph on a flat road), or activities that are clearly miscategorized (e.g., a car drive logged as a bike ride).
• Inappropriate Content: This includes offensive titles or descriptions, explicit or disturbing photos, or any content that violates Strava's terms of service regarding decency and respect.
• Cheating/Gaming: Reporting for cheating typically involves activities where an athlete has clearly used a vehicle for a segment attempt, or otherwise gained an unfair advantage to achieve a KOM/QOM (King/Queen of the Mountain) or other leaderboard position.
• Privacy Violations: If an activity reveals sensitive personal information without consent, or otherwise infringes on privacy, it may warrant a report.
• Spam/Commercial Content: Activities that are purely promotional, unsolicited advertisements, or otherwise constitute spam fall under this category.

What Happens After You Report a Ride?

Once you submit a report, it goes into a queue for review by Strava's moderation team. Strava takes reports seriously and investigates each one based on its Community Standards and Terms of Service.

• Confidentiality: Your identity as the reporter remains confidential. The athlete whose activity is reported will not know who reported them.
• Review Process: Strava's team will evaluate the reported content against their guidelines. This process can take some time, depending on the volume of reports.
• Potential Outcomes: If the activity is found to violate Strava's policies, it may be:
  • Removed from the platform.
  • Edited (e.g., photos removed, descriptions altered).
  • The athlete may receive a warning.
  • In severe or repeated cases, the athlete's account may be suspended or banned.
  • If no violation is found, the activity will remain unchanged.

Best Practices for Reporting

To ensure the reporting system is used effectively and fairly:

• Be Specific: Provide as much detail as possible in the optional text field. This helps the moderation team understand the exact nature of the issue.
• Report Legitimate Issues Only: Do not use the reporting feature for personal disputes, disagreements, or minor annoyances. It is intended for clear violations of Strava's policies.
• Understand Strava's Community Standards: Familiarize yourself with Strava's official guidelines to ensure your report aligns with their policies.
• Do Not Misuse the Tool: Repeatedly submitting false or frivolous reports can hinder the moderation process and may result in action being taken against your own account.

Beyond Reporting: Other Strava Management Tools

While reporting is crucial for addressing violations, Strava offers other tools for managing data integrity and user experience:

• Flagging an Activity: Distinct from a general report, "flagging" is specifically used to dispute KOM/QOMs or segment leaderboard positions due to incorrect data or vehicle use. When an activity is flagged, it is removed from segment leaderboards until the issue is resolved, but the activity itself remains visible.
• Cropping an Activity: Athletes can use the crop tool to trim the start or end of their own activities, useful for removing commute portions or GPS drift.
• Editing an Activity: Athletes can edit their own activity details, such as name, description, sport type, and privacy settings.
• Adjusting Privacy Settings: Users have extensive control over who can see their activities, their profile, and their maps, helping to prevent the need for reports related to privacy.
• Segment Management: Users can create, edit, or report issues with specific segments themselves, contributing to the quality of the segment database.