Pool Etiquette

My gym only has 4 lanes and once in a while would get the old folks who "chat" down at the end of a lane.  It hard to say what to do because they pay their fees like I do, and if they both wanted a lane to swim in then they should.  Just because I am actually working out doesn't make me more privileged (although it should!)

It depends how confrontational you are.  I would love to ask them to move over but I know I won't.  I will just glare.... :D

Here's what I do.  If there's full lanes I walk up and look for one with only one person in it.  I don't care what they're doing.  I sit down on the wall with my feet in the water on one side or other of the lane.  As they approach, depending on what they're doing, they'll either see me or my feet.  As they acknowledge I ask as nicely as I can if we can split the lane.  Works fine.  Other, good swimmers (unlike me, heh) have done this to me, so I take it as acceptable.

If the person is breast-stroking or being wide, they've always been considerate as I approach them and pass.

If all lanes are 2-per, I'd probably wait on the pool deck so I don't get skipped.  That hasn't happened to me though.

First, I feel your pain but there membership fees are as good as the ones which you have paid so they have every right to be there despite their speed.

Second, I would have gotten in a lane and shared.  If they were really considerate they would have seen your swim and perhaps gone to share in the next lane although this is unlikely.  Your presence probably would have sped things up a bit though.  Waiting in the whirlpool (though comfortable) is just asking for trouble.

Some of my favorite swimming pool situations:

1) Someone decides to split a lane with you without alerting you that they are getting in.  You only find out when they crash into you.

2)  Someone decides they want to split a lane with you when the rest of the pool is wide open.

3) Floaters / water joggers.  You could fit ten in a lane with no problem, but they take up the whole pool.

4) Someone asks to split a lane, but their concept of split is about 70%/30%.  Usually, they have sharp finger/toe nails, too.

5)  Someone you'd really like to avoid decides that they want to be your "close" friend.  Then they follow you into the showers when you get out.

I've easily shared a lane with senior water walkers before by splitting the lane.  Heck the walkers are usually easier to share with than some of the slower swimmers.  And I look at getting bumped and run into as good tri training.  It used to bother me a lot, but now it doesn't at all (except for this one guy that seems to grab my thigh or butt when we pass.  I usually avoid him and let one of the other guys split a lane with him.    ).

I always laugh inside at the people who aren't brave enough to ask to share, or give up their chance by not waiting near the lanes (a much riskier method).    I also sit with my feet in my lane of choice and wait for the other person to show up so I can ask.  Not once have they not understood.  I usually say "Can I split with you?  I'll take this half if that's okay" just to be extra clear.

I also have found that in Minnesota, the Land'O'Passive Aggressive, the person I am sharing with usually gets out after a few minutes.  Hee hee. (and no, I'm not taking up 70% of the lane)

ONLY 3 per lane woud be AWESOME!!. I swear, sometimes there are up to 6 swimmers in the fast lane. THAT is a challenge! To be fair though, this has only been since I've been swimming at night. There weren't 6 people in the whole pool complex at 5am last summer.

All I can say is -- THANK GOD I can swim in a lake.  Even with 8 other swimmers in the lake, we all have plenty of "lane space" 

I dread the return of cold weather and pools indoors.

so it's not just me! i have swum into/over and through kids who deliberately get in my way.

btw who ever slagged off lazy swimmers: maybe they are slower than you or less healthy. it doesn't mean they are lazy or less deserving. just please make sure you are seeded in the correct lane.

To the OP: Don't wait for a lane at the hot tub. Be more obvious and dangle your feet in the lane you want to share.  The correct response of the swimmer in the lane should be to wave and move to one side. Faling that, stand in the water on the side you want 'til they reach the wall. Ask "Mind sharing?" and take off.

Kids playing in the lap lanes = targets.