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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to ask for a lane to myself at the public swimming pool

42 replies

TanglednotTamed · 25/06/2013 11:01

I am almost, but not quite, blind. I used to be a very good, competitive, swimmer (had better eyesight then). Now I am out of shape, after 3 kids and too much inactivity and would really like to take up swimming again.

The problem is, now I can't see well enough to avoid other people in the pool. Our local pool has 'disabled swimming' times, but shared lanes are not much use to me. In fact, if others are going slower than average, it would be even more difficult.

Do you think it would be unreasonable to ask for a lane to myself so that I could swim regularly? I could be flexible to some degree about the time of day so that it could be at an otherwise quiet time.

OP posts:

propertyNIGHTmareBEFOREXMAS · 25/06/2013 11:03

Yanbu, there is no harm in asking. I hope you do. Good luck.

milktraylady · 25/06/2013 11:03

Go for it! Great idea!

milktraylady · 25/06/2013 11:03

Oops- YANBU

LazyMonkeyButler · 25/06/2013 11:08

YANBU to ask at all.

I'm sure that they should be able to accommodate you at some point across the week.

Hope they say yes & hope you enjoy your swimming .

HerrenaHarridan · 25/06/2013 11:09

I'm sure they wouldn't have a problem with this especially if you offered to come at a quiet time

skaen · 25/06/2013 11:11

If there is a University or FE college or something like that near you which has a swimming pool it might be worth asking there too. A lot of public swimming pools are used by schools during the day and then swimming lessons so they don't have the quiet times of day to the same extent.

Good luck

DeWe · 25/06/2013 11:20

I think as long as you are willing to come at whatever time they say, that should be considered a reasonable adjustment, and they should do it.

But I would be a bit concerned about people respecting the lanes. Because when I've been and there has been a lane marked out, people are really bad about thinking "oh I'll do some lane swimming too" and just ducking under and joining in, unless it's a lesson with an instructor who will ask them to leave.
Can you see well enough if someone did go into the lane?

DeWe · 25/06/2013 11:24

Sorry, hit post by accident.

So I would ask if the lifeguards are aware that you are in this situation so they can be aware that they may have to ask people not to cross the lane barrier. Ours are rubbish at anything like that.

Lovelygoldboots · 25/06/2013 11:28

Ask about different classes. I have been going to adult swimming lessons to develop my stroke. We get to use fins and hand paddles which make you work harder in the session which you can't use in public swims. There are all different abilities in my class. There are also swimfit sessions where you can work to a tailored program.

Lovelygoldboots · 25/06/2013 11:30

The point being to my post is that you get a lane usually to yourself or between two with someone of a similar ability.

LessMissAbs · 25/06/2013 12:25

nearly all my local pools are so quiet during the day, putting a lane up would not be a problem. But it depends on the management. And how to stop someone else using it? but I think its a great idea and hope you manage it.

I once got a lane put up for me by pool staff, because two women complained about me splashing them!

HeySoulSister · 25/06/2013 12:51

Go for it and ask! We have a blind swimmer who has his own little lane, it's no big ask

SybilRamkin · 25/06/2013 13:34

YANBU to ask, but YWBU to expect it as a matter of course. It depends on whether the pool is able to accommodate you - if they can, that's great, but some pools are just too busy and the needs of many other users must be balanced against the needs of just one. For example, my local pool is busy all the time, even at 6 am, so a lane being reserved for one person would be a bit tricky.

I really hope they can work it out for you, swimming is great, but if they can't try other pools or contact local authorities directly to see if they can help.

Original poster

TanglednotTamed · 26/06/2013 09:52

Thanks for all your replies and for being so positive generally. I think I will wait a bit longer before I ask as I am not sure how regularly I can commit until dc3 at preschool and don't want to waste an opportunity. Really need to find some form of exercise soon though - was much easier when I could just go out for a run!

OP posts:

MidniteScribbler · 26/06/2013 10:49

Our pool has six lane swimming lanes set up - 1 fast, 1 average, 1 slow and 3 that can be reserved. They have a chalk board at the end and the club just write the names on it each morning. If there's no name for that time, it's a free for all, if it's booked, then it's reserved. Might be worth suggesting something similar to your pool?

Original poster

TanglednotTamed · 26/06/2013 19:09

ThhAnks midnitr at's v Iinteresting!

OP posts:

chickensaladagain · 26/06/2013 19:15

Our local pool has man that regularly has a lane reserved with a sign at the end saying private lane

His dog sitting on the side of the pool is also a bit of a giveaway but he is there that often no one bats an eye

Llareggub · 26/06/2013 19:17

I think it seems like a perfectly reasonable request.

dizzy77 · 26/06/2013 19:22

I'd ask. You mentioned you have swum competitively - your local swimming club might be able to help too: whilst they are probably limited in the lanes they have for their sessions they may have ideas eg for pools or sessions you might not know about or be able to accommodate you at their Masters sessions in other ways.

I swim amongst the slowest in my local club - not competitively apart from the odd "fun" meet for the experience when I usually come last! They do make a real effort for members who need extra help for whatever reason.

SauvignonBlanche · 26/06/2013 19:26

Sounds like a reasonable adjustment to me.

ChippingInWiredOnCoffee · 26/06/2013 19:29

I'm very sorry to hear about your eyesight - losing it must be a very hard thing to deal with.

I think you should ask now about the swimming lane and see what they can arrange - it might be compatible with what you can manage now, nothing to lose by asking.

Could you go running if you went with someone else or at a track?

Glittertwins · 26/06/2013 19:31

I echo the Masters suggestion. I can't see that well in the pool either but you will have that lane discipline and awareness of others in the lane already. The other plus is that you will all be following the same program so no unexpected direction or stroke change.

GrimmaTheNome · 26/06/2013 19:34

I found an RNIB[[www.rnib.org.uk/livingwithsightloss/Documents/leisure_customers.doc‎
document]] which includes this:
'The Equality Act requires that service providers who run facilities such as leisure centres, gyms, sports clubs and swimming pools, should not discriminate against people because of their disability. The legislation places an obligation on providers to make reasonable changes so that disabled people can access their services more easily.'

Letting you have a lane sometimes seems reasonable. Go for it!

Original poster

TanglednotTamed · 27/06/2013 08:04

Thank you all! Grimma, very helpful about the Equality Act document.

I am going to be applying for a guide dog next year, it takes up to two years to get one, but I rather like the idea of it sitting at the end of the lane counting my laps, chicken :)

What are Masters sessions?

Chipping - I could run on a track if there were no other people in my lane, or on a traffic-free path (i.e. not pavements/crossing roads etc.) with no obstacles and/or someone else running with me.

OP posts:

GrimmaTheNome · 27/06/2013 08:56

Guide dogs have a doc specifically about access to leisure centres here - aimed at the people who run them. Compared to what they're supposed to do to accommodate a dog, your request for a lane is really very modest.

HTH and you get to do some swimming soon.

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