Why Aussies are turning on running clubs who takeover pathways

First it was the gym, now this trend is taking over Australia and not everyone is a fan.

Ann Wason Moore shares why Gold Coasters are turning on running clubs who takeover pathways

If you think traffic is bad on our roads, you should try getting out of your car.

Because when it comes to our footpaths, it’s getting gridlocked.

And while it’s an issue here on the Gold Coast, it’s occurring right across Australia … and is even becoming a global phenomena with civic leaders around the world struggling to keep the peace on the footpath.

Now, part of this pavement population boom is due to the increasing uptake of micro-mobility, with swarms of e-scooters and e-bikes racing past people. The issues – and injuries – resulting from this intersection of e-power and pedestrians has been well documented.

But there is another reason behind the sidewalk surge … the rise in runners.

Across the Coast, membership in local running clubs is booming, with the region’s run clubs considered part of the reason why the Gold Coast Marathon sold out this year in record time and with record numbers.

And we’re not alone.

Running for fitness is growing in record numbers.

In the US, the Chicago marathon in October this year will have a record number of runners at 50,000 participants after 120,000 applications, and in the UK, the recently run and similarly sold-out London Marathon also saw more than 50,000 participants.

Meanwhile, according to fitness app Strava, running was the most-uploaded sport in 2023 and continues to grow. Meanwhile, trendy running brand Hoka has enjoyed record-breaking revenue year-on-year globally, while Google Trends showed that the term ‘run club’ has been steadily growing over the last five years.

Interestingly, just as running continues its record run, gym memberships are dropping.

Surveys in both Australia and the UK show fewer people are taking out memberships at the gym, with many citing cost-of-living pressures as the reason. And, after all, running is free.

Now, while I’m happy to celebrate if this could possibly be the beginning of the end of the gym bro culture, this trend is causing some fallout on the footpath.

Look, I hate to point out any problems, because runners seem pretty chill … even if some of those videos of run club members high-fiving everyone on the footpath make me want to spit my morning coffee. It’s just too early to be that cheerful.

I guess it’s a good thing then that I’m too lazy to join them.

However, there is an actual issue here.

The Gold Coast Marathon is more popular than ever with runners. Picture Mike Batterham

When the Bulletin ran a story about the popularity of local run clubs, one reader wrote: “You make it sound great but the pathways are not made for 100+ runners three-abreast charging through the crowds spitting at your feet as they barge through the walkers. THIS IS NOT something to cheer about.”

Even the City of Gold Coast has been forces to issue traffic alerts for our footpaths during peak times, with the council posting on social media pre-Easter holidays:

“It can get pretty busy on our paths during the holidays. If you are travelling along a path: Keep left, stay alert, travel safely, and signal if you’re overtaking. Watch for events that can impact the use of the path.

“Slow down, travel slowly, and share the space safely.”

Hopefully we won’t reach the capacity that Canadians are currently concerned about.

In Toronto, more than 500 people signed an online petition within just a few days calling on their city to rein in its runners.

The cohort of residents have taken issue with some of the city’s running clubs, who they said used footpaths like their personal treadmills, fellow pedestrians be damned.

Locals using the Surfers South Oceanway. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“They’ll turn a corner and it’s just a large group running at you, and you honestly don’t really know what to do,” resident Leah Madley told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

Now, I don’t think we need to regulate our run clubs, but we could certainly turn this negative into a positive by pushing for future footpaths.

While it’s fabulous to see the continued construction and connection of our Oceanway, let’s not stop there.

Just as we need a full road network to complement the M1, we need safe paths for pedestrians on every street and thoroughfare.

As our public transportation network improves, we can only hope to see a further decrease in the number of people using their cars and an increase in patronage of trams, trains, buses … and feet.

But to make it all work, we need to make sure that this non-car network is fully connected, And that means first-grade footpaths … let’s build them wide and level and fix up those that are crumbling (looking at you, Hedges Ave).

I don’t want to hear about potential roadblocks … it’s time to put our best foot forward.

Originally published as Why Aussies are turning on running clubs who takeover pathways