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AIBU?

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Original poster

Swimming pool etiquette

59 replies

Mypuppywontsleep · 26/08/2023 18:00

I swim at my local gym/pool regularly this year. They have a lane system where adult only members book online or turn up at reception to see if there is space, and book the lane speed that suits them slow medium or fast.

Each lane is sectioned off and has instructions of which direction to swim in each lane - up one side of the lane, back up the other side. You have to move over about 1-1.5 meters at each end of your length of swim to start your next length. It’s no hassle to do this tbh takes a second or 2. I always pick the slow lane which has one side against a rope and the other side is the pool wall.

The central rope side you will always get splashed by people in the faster lanes but it’s not a big deal. I swim to the rules, trying to time match others who swim in my lane to give them space so I am not getting too close to them or if they are a lot faster, I will let them go off before me.

I go at mostly quiet times and almost every time if there is only 1 other person in my section they will either ask me if we can just swim up and down in a straight line and they will ALWAYS be asking for the wall side, or they will just start swimming up and down against the wall and not say anything. If a 3rd person joins they will go back to swimming in the right direction. Not the same person, always different people.

I am a self taught (as adult) swimmer who isn’t that confident in the deep end so I choose to swim in a lane that isn't just in the middle of the pool. I’m not insanely slow but there are other lanes to use if you are a faster swimmer!

Recently I said no, sorry to someone who asked me to swim in the middle of the pool as I said I was still working on my confidence and they laughed and said I ‘seemed fine’. I didn’t ask for just the wall side, I said can we just swim in the rotation as per the rules? If they told me they felt worried and wanted the wall I would have let them tbh, but they didn’t.

AIBU that the directional system is fine and this way it means everyone gets to swim near the wall for one length if they need/want/like to?

OP posts:
MzHz · 26/08/2023 18:06

It’s actually quite common to split the lane if there are only 2 people

sometimes life guards don’t like it if the lane is in the middle of the pool as you can potentially clash hands with swimmers in the lanes to The sides- which REALLY hurts!

splitting the lane takes the pressure and stress off the other swimmer, it means they don’t have to worry where you are or make you stop or worry that you’ll push off in front of them but I can I understand why you’re not keen on it. If they want to split the lane, tell them you’ll take the wall side, then perhaps you’ll feel less worried about the deep end

MzHz · 26/08/2023 18:08

I’d always prefer to split the lane tbh, As a relatively new club swimmer I’m a lot quicker than many members of the public, but club swimmers are often quicker than me.

Alissia · 26/08/2023 18:15

YANBU. Exactly the same system operates where I swim. One lane is clock-wise, the next further along is anti-clockwise. Sometimes people forget the directional system and find they’re swimming towards someone who is applying the rule. That may be a way of you asserting yourself, OP. 😉 Swimming is rather like driving, I often find! I thought you were going to write about people ‘parking’ themselves at the end of a lane for a chat or taking umbrage about being overtaken!
In the past I always offered the wall side to my friend who lost her peripheral vision. All others - nope.

lljkk · 26/08/2023 18:15

i think it's weird that you go to the pool but don't like getting wet being splashed.

Are you afraid of being kicked or scratched when not against the wall?

Just assert yourself and say "single line movement is fine so long as I get the wall "

TeenDivided · 26/08/2023 18:17

I don't like splitting lanes either. It stresses me for some reason.

lljkk · 26/08/2023 18:18

ps: very impressed your slow lane is so quiet, just 2 of you. Ours is the most crowded lane typically. The only one that ever reaches max on the booking system.

A Slow lane swimmer told me story about barnacles and flotsam (her nicknames for how other slow lane swimmers not moving at all)

Original poster
Mypuppywontsleep · 26/08/2023 18:21

lljkk · 26/08/2023 18:15

i think it's weird that you go to the pool but don't like getting wet being splashed.

Are you afraid of being kicked or scratched when not against the wall?

Just assert yourself and say "single line movement is fine so long as I get the wall "

I don’t like going under water tbh. I don’t swim with my face in the water; which is ok, I just don’t like it. I am anxious around deep water so the idea of being in the middle of the pool for 30-45 mins isn’t ideal for me. Being splashed is not an issue but I assume this is why other people don’t offer to take the rope side when they want to split the lane.

OP posts:
SweetAndSourChick3n · 26/08/2023 18:23

I much prefer to split the lane and each take a side. No worries about overtaking or whether you're getting in the way of the other person. Much nicer!

Original poster
Mypuppywontsleep · 26/08/2023 18:23

lljkk · 26/08/2023 18:18

ps: very impressed your slow lane is so quiet, just 2 of you. Ours is the most crowded lane typically. The only one that ever reaches max on the booking system.

A Slow lane swimmer told me story about barnacles and flotsam (her nicknames for how other slow lane swimmers not moving at all)

It’s really quiet sometimes last week I was the ONLY person in the whole pool!

usually there are 1-3 people in slow and 2 in the other faster lanes sharing

OP posts:
ellesbellesxxx · 26/08/2023 18:37

YANBU
our local pool has the same system and it works perfectly

Supercat100 · 26/08/2023 18:37

YABU. Splitting the lane is the norm otherwise it's really frustrating for the person who is faster than you but not fast enough for the next lane. Maybe have a few lessons to increase your confidence?

Aparecium · 26/08/2023 18:57

I would hate it. I am very short-sighted and can see very little without my glasses. If the lane swims clockwise, for example, I know I have to keep within touch of wall or rope with my left hand, otherwise I'm driving into another swimmer's space.

If someone wants to swim faster than me, but not as fast as the next lane, they can overtake me at an end or turn earlier. That's what I do if I'm the faster swimmer.

I've never come across lane splitting. I would find it frightening. If someone is swimming towards me in a conventional lane, we can see each other when we are close and adjust our strokes so as not to hit each other if either is doing breaststroke.

I guess that means IMO YANBU.

MinnieMountain · 26/08/2023 19:04

It’s so common in 20/25 meter pools I would assume the other person will and nab the wall side as soon as they get in.

lidolemon · 26/08/2023 19:05

Splitting the lane into 2 is common if there's just 2 of you.

You need to swim with me, I can't stand the wall side and prefer the open-ness of the lane rope! I feel too claustrophobic if I end up in the wall side of a lane.

In our pool, we have 6 lanes. Lane 1 (wall) is usually closed, Lane 2-3 slow, 3-4 medium and 5-6 (6 is wall) fast. I think it would make sense to have the fastest swimmers, and therefore perhaps the most confident in the middle, with the slow lanes on the walls. Walls can be a pain for those doing breaststroke though.

Snittle · 26/08/2023 19:11

Can’t you just say “yes but only if I can have the wall”?

If they have an issue with this then they can hardly think you’re unreasonable for also not wanting the rope side.

Silverdogblue · 26/08/2023 19:16

YANBU OP. Splitting the lane is fine but if you’ve not got a bid from your lane mate, you should follow the rules.

FWIW, I think pool swimmers are absolutely vile, selfish, ingrates. Last year I swam about 900 miles. 90% in open water for a very good reason. It’s hard to get territorial in the Pacific Ocean. Not so much in a 23 degree 25m pool in Basildon. Ugh.

surreygirl1987 · 26/08/2023 19:24

It’s actually quite common to split the lane if there are only 2 people

Agreed. Much easier as no need for overtaking issues. I'd be delighted to not have to swim by the wall, as I'm always hitting it!

However, you have the right to say no of course.

newnameforthisthread01 · 26/08/2023 19:25

Splitting lanes is fine if there are two if you BUT it means no one else can join the lane without it causing issues

Cinnamope · 26/08/2023 19:30

I always try to split the lane and I hate the wall side! Would much rather not be banging limbs off the side…

Precipice · 26/08/2023 19:31

Splitting the lane is preferred (and normal), because in the rotational system, usually one person is getting in the other's way. If there are more than 2 people, the inconvenience is unavoidable, but splitting the lane avoids the hold-ups. The slower swimmer is not constantly being overtaken and the faster swimmer is not constantly forced to stop to allow the slower swimmer to establish a bigger gap.

IME people just go for the side that they happen to be standing on when the request is made. I've not encountered these wall-hoggers, but then I'm not in the slow lane, so it may be true there or a peculiarity of your pool. Personally if there is a wall, my slight preference might be for the lane side, since if you get off-kilter, you hit only the laneline and not the wall, which is less painful.

olderbutwiser · 26/08/2023 19:48

I'm new to lane swimming. I've mostly been outraged surprised by the two friends who float along side by side chatting and barely moving and making it difficult for anyone to overtake them; and bemused by the ones who spend 30 out of 40 mins chatting at the shallow end (get a jacuzzi folks!).

Quite complicated, this lane etiquette thing.

Serendipitoushedgehog · 26/08/2023 19:57

I’ve switched to half a lane each before at the suggestion of another swimmer and then we were told off by the lifeguard and told to follow the sign!

Flossflower · 26/08/2023 20:00

I would go with the system that has been put in place. One of the reasons for doing this is so people actually swim instead of just chatting to each other. If someone isn’t confident unless they are next to the wall, they shouldn’t be lane swimming.
I don’t understand booking the lane you want to swim in as surely that does depend on the speed of the other swimmers. If most people are overtaking me I move down a lane. If I am overtaking everyone I move up a lane.
There are always problems with lane swimming. People think they are fast - well they probably were 40 years ago. Some (mostly men) like to wait in the shallow end and then have one really fast dash, only to stop at the other end.
Don’t get me started on people who swim on their backs and bump into other people.

Nevermind31 · 26/08/2023 20:03

Split lane is fine if it is only 2 people… but I REALLY dislike those who continue to hog one side of there are 2 or more others in the same lane

itsgettingweird · 26/08/2023 20:03

Yes very common split lane when 2 swimmers. My ds swims for a club (national level) and they do that in quieter sessions when just national swimmers.

Yanbu to not want to but you should ask for wall side of you prefer. "I'd rather not but happy to if I have wall side".

What I don't understand is how splitting the lanes means you end up swimming down the middle of the pool? You literally just swim up and back the same side rather than up 1 and back down the other!

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