To think going to the gym shouldn't be a family affair

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I go to a small, independent gym. It's tiny.

I turn up tonight and the entire thing is full of one family. Mum, dad, four sons. Aged probably 12-24.

The two youngest aren't working out. They're running around shouting, jumping on and off equipment, coming up to people on machines and taunting them.

The two older boys and the dad are essentially hogging all the equipment. They're cycling between the three leg machines, three arm machines, the two treadmills etc. and preventing anyone else working out on them. Most of their "workout" is being spent chatting between themselves or on their phones.

The mum couldn't care less, she has her headphones on and she's shut out the world. Good for her if her family are always this ignorant.

The gym owner couldn't care less. He's doing his workout on his own and ignoring them.

AIBU to say this shouldn't be allowed?

YABU that families shouldn't go together.

But YANBU that children should be supervised properly.

The younger children shouldn’t be allowed to run amok by the management or parents, but everything else you describe is not unreasonable. They are paying customers and can use the gym. You can hop on the equipment you want when it’s vacated.

We often go as a family of 4 but my teenagers concentrate on their workouts and don’t run about because they’re not 5.

I think what's annoyed me the most is the two youngest running around, plus them all just sitting on the machines chatting instead of working out

We go as a family but to work out. Yabu to say families shouldn't go together and take appropriate turns on equipment, but gyms are no place for kids to run around / mess about, so yanbu about that part

The children should be behaving appropriately. The rest of your post makes no sense. Why on earth shouldn't a family go to the gym together? The dad and sons aren't "hogging" anything, they are using the equipment, surely?

They shouldn't be allowed, no. Using the machines as members, absolutely. Taunting other people, messing around and not allowing others access should be reasons for the owner to ask them to leave/pack it in.
If this is a regular thing, I'd leave and join another gym.

It's the three of them sitting on all three leg machines (they're all organised in a sort of triangle) and just chatting

The two younger boys are the issue.

Only ones doing wrong are the two youngest. I’d speak to the owner about them. No 12/14 year olds should be behaving like that.
The three working sets on the leg machine are surely no more “hogging” than three strangers would be?

Have you asked them if you could use the machine or how many sets they have left? Have they actively said no? I used to ask to work in (before I got sick of public gyms and got my one home one) and never got refused.

Sorry x posted with this update. I’d just ask them if they’re finished yet or how many are they still to do. And keep asking. Sometimes you need to be assertive at the gym.

Use your words and ask them if they've finished because you'd like to use it when they have.

How can 3 people monopolise 8+ pieces of equipment? Just get in there and start using what you want

It's the three of them sitting on all three leg machines (they're all organised in a sort of triangle) and just chatting

Hi can I nip in if you're between steps? Thanks!

Well no, they shouldn't have the kids here, but the real problem is that the gym owner isn't managing his gym. People gonna people. Businesses should have robust management processes to deal with it.

Point out to the owner that if he fails to manage children on his gym floor, 1) he'll lose paying customers, 2) one of the kids will hurt themselves and he'll get his arse sued.

I have the same problem in my gym with a group of 4 women that always show up together. They take up various equipment and stand around chatting for an hour.

So YANBU but also groups of more than 2 women should not be going to the gym together.

Are they just chatting or are they taking adequate rest between sets? If going heavy, then 2-3 mins rest between sets isn't uncommon. But they could do that adequately with 2 machines between the 3 of them.
Nothing excuses the poor parenting of the younger kids.

@DaniMontyRae easily 5 minutes between "sets"

@CraftyNavySeal I personally think it should be a solitary activity but maybe that's just me

YANBU I would complain to the gym.

Your problem here is the gym owner. It's not safe to have small children running around gym equipment. I'd find a new gym.

The younger children shouldn't be there running around. But family who are members using the equipment not an issue

We go as a family but work out separately when we get there but sometimes pair together. I've never been at any gym where kids were running about and not working out, or indeed, where there were any young kids at all. Most are 14+ or 16+.