Strava removes automatic flybys after safety concerns
The ride-tracking app has now made the comparison feature opt-in

Strava has made changes to its flyby feature, with users now having to opt-in for the comparisons and overview function.
Flybys are a tool that allows you to see the profiles of people you passed while cycling or running, also letting you view their full route.
But the function has raised some safety concerns, as Strava users pointed out it would be easy to use flybys to track athletes, figure out their routine, and even see dark or secluded areas of their route.
While it has always been possible to make your flybys private, many users may not have known the feature existed, or been aware of the ways you can make your account private and secure.
In response to the safety concerns, Strava has now made flybys a private feature by default, with users having to switch the function on to get the overview of their activities.
Strava said on Twitter: “As part of our ongoing commitment to privacy and safety, Flyby sharing will be default off unless athletes choose to change it.”
The Flybys tool is a Strava Labs function that allows cyclists and runners to play back their activities, as well as those users who were around you at the time, on a map and timeline.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Previously athletes were able to opt out of the feature manually by heading to their privacy settings and choose whether everyone or no-one could access them.
Strava recently released another new function - goal graphs.
Goals are one of Strava’s most popular subscription features while the addition of graph’s gives users a much clearer way of tracking their progress.
>>> ‘We are starting to feel unsafe’: Will the Giro d’Italia make it to Milan?
Earlier this year, Strava expanded Goals to include all of the 32 different sport types you can track using the social media app.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers. Away from the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
-
'I completely blew my doors' - Katie Archibald wins first national track title in six years
Double Olympic champion enjoys "nice reset" on National Track Championships return
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Madison DTE Men’s Isoler Thermal Long Sleeve Jacket review: best for early spring warmth
Mid-weight warmth and a reasonable price tag make the DTE Isoler Thermal Long Sleeve Jacket well worth a look for cool spring and autumn rides
By Tim Russon Published
-
Cyclist breaks Strava record on 'world's tallest mountain' by almost an hour
Mountain biker Sparky Moir Sears smashes QOM on Mauna Kea volcano
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tadej Pogačar smashes the Strava KOM on the Coll de Rates
World Champion sets a time of 12:21 on the segment, beating Peter Øxenberg Hansen by 17 seconds
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Last-minute gifts cyclists will love: gift subscriptions to Strava, Ride with GPS and more are just a click away
From indoor training to Tour de France streaming and magazines, these gifts will keep your cyclist pedalling happily in 2025
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Forget distance covered, these are the key stats to note in your Strava Year in Sport
We asked a coach how to best analyse our end of year Strava data
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Amateur cyclist in talks with four WorldTour teams after Strava KOM heroics
Jack Burke says there's a 30% chance he'll ride at cycling's top level in 2025
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Amateur cyclist beats Sepp Kuss's time on Alpe d'Huez to take Strava KOM
Jack Burke hopes professional teams will offer him 'a chance to compete against the best'
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Strava blocks other apps from using leaderboard and segment data
Exercise tracking app says move will help maintain user privacy in the long term
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Amateur cyclist breaks Strava KOMs on Mortirolo and Stelvio, makes plea for pro contract
'Let's hope some kind of opportunity comes from this,' said Canadian Jack Burke, after taking the Mortirolo crown
By Tom Davidson Published