Lane Etiquette

Jimbo · 02-13-2007, 02:37 PM

Okay - I have ranted/mentioned this before..but my gym is really a busy place at the time that I go. (Wish I could change but can't right now)
As a result, getting into a swimming lane requires some cooperation from others. Being new to swimming, I have no real idea about what is an acceptable way to approach an available "slot"..ie..how do I let someone know that I want to share their lane with them without being too intrusive?

One of the times I did this, the fellow had taken a pause and I was able to ask if he minded. This was fine. But the next time, I had to sit on the edge of the lane, legs dangling, until the guy spotted me and kind of nodded..without pausing...I can see that this kind of broke his concentration a bit. Which I don't like doing to anyone. The next time I tried with someone, I ended up just walking away. This fellow wouldn't acknowledge I existed at all. I figured he just didn't want to share a lane. (selfish bastard)

Anyway...do I just dive in and make sure I take one lane even if they don't know I'm coming? What to do? What is the accepted way to approach a vacant lane? Is there one? I mean, there are only so many lanes and there are a lot of people wishing to swim. Seems cooperation should be the key here. But maybe it's my approach..

TennesseeGentleman · 02-13-2007, 03:59 PM

If you look like your avatar, I wouldn't want you in my lane either... If you are at the wall, and it is customary to share lanes, people know what you want. Do not be offended by the simple nod of acknowledgment. This is their way of responding and letting you in without disrupting their rhythm.

Jimbo · 02-13-2007, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TennesseeGentleman

If you look like your avatar, I wouldn't want you in my lane either... If you are at the wall, and it is customary to share lanes, people know what you want. Do not be offended by the simple nod of acknowledgment. This is their way of responding and letting you in without disrupting their rhythm.

Ha. I am ugly but not that big.

No, I'm not at all offended by a nod. That's fine, but I wasn't sure if I needed to wait until I got one... I was a bit confused by the fellow who wouldn't nod, look, or anything despite the fact that he was the only one in a lane using it solo and I dangled my feet in one corner of his lane..he flipped...swam down and back...flipped...ignorrrred me...wtf?

So I guess there's not a standard way of approach. I just thought maybe I didn't know the super secret signal or something.:p Either he was a jerk or I was doing something wrong to gain entry...that's what prompted me to ask here.

I mean I'm not crazy about having to share a lane either..but I do it cause it's necessary for others to be able to swim.

ODB · 02-13-2007, 05:30 PM

Try to let them know without being too obtrusive (like you have been). If the other swimmer doesn't acknowledge you go ahead and swim once you are sure he/she knows you're there.

Q. · 02-13-2007, 06:15 PM

Just be thankful that you're not sharing with MULTIPLE swimmers! I've never had to "circle," I always share with one person and we take sides. I would probably quit swimming if I had to do it like the Masters folks often talk about!

emartin10 · 02-13-2007, 09:03 PM

If a person won't acknowledge me, I won't hesitate to jump right in and start swimming. I know it's a break in concentration or whatever, but if he can't even give me a head nod or something, then he/she can kiss my ass.

I get bitter when people are "too good" to share a lane.

E

swiminto · 02-14-2007, 10:15 AM

Hey...just my .02 cents worth.....If I am swimming in a lane, and am doing a workout involving long meterage, sometimes I will not acknowledge a person trying to work their way in. I am not being snobbish or acting too good, it is just that I am concentratin on the task at hand. Most people in my gym pool, will just get in and start swimming, after they have stood at the wall for a few seconds. That is fine with me, if I need too I will work around them. With that said, if they push off right before me, and start swimming breaststroke, or side stroke, fully knowing I am swimming pretty fast, then I will pass them, AND stop at the next wall, and have something to say to them, regardless of where I am in my set.

If I am the one coming into the lane, I stand at the wall, out of the way, until I am sure that the swimmer has noticed me, and then when they are on the opposite wall, I push off and start swimming. That way, they have ample oppurtunity to see me in the lane as they swim towards me, and I towards them on opposite sides of the black line.

My pool also has designated lanes..Fast, Medium and not so fast Lane. However, most people ignore those signs, until I point it out to them. (if that makes me lane swimming snob, so be it..LOL)

Wow that was a long reply, sorry bout that.

emartin10 · 02-14-2007, 11:44 AM

I think you are dead on. I am a fairly fast swimmer, and I will not even try to get into a lane with a little old lady breaststroking, because that will make both people mad. However, if I get into a lane with someone who is of equal ability, I'll do everything you mentioned, I'll wait for them to get to the other end and push off. But no matter how into my workout I am, or how focused I am, a little head nod acknowledging the new guy in my lane isn't going to derail my workout. Maybe it's just me, but I think it's kind of common courtesy. I don't know.

E

swiminto · 02-14-2007, 12:54 PM

My fault here....I should have mentioned, that whenever I am in a lane by myself, I am Circle swimming, so I am going up on one side of the lane and coming down on the other. That way, if someone does come into the lane, they can slip in without too much trouble. I NEVER EVER swim in the middle of a lane, unless I am competing.

For the most part, I try to accomodate the other swimmers in my lane, as I have the option to swim with various Masters teams. So if I am swimming during lap times, I am very aware of the others around me. More for my safety then theirs, but I do try to stay out of thier way.

emartin10 · 02-15-2007, 01:55 PM

Hell yes. Me too. Sorry, I get fired up - there are some serious assholes at my pool, so whenever anyone brings this up all the rage I have for those select few comes out!

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!

E

Ogedei · 02-20-2007, 10:34 PM

I'm a bad person in some ways when it comes to this.

When I have the lane, I swim close to the middle.
I suck at swimming on the side of the lane. I am super paranoid about taking up more than my half so I tend to hug the ropes a little bit, ie run into them, which takes pretty much all the fun out of it for me.

So when I don't have to swim along the edge I don't.

In terms of politness. I can't imagine starting in a lane without the other guy knowing you are there.

I had one guy just recently get into the lane I was using and start swimming his first 25 when I was coming back. As I mentioned I don't tend to swim along the edge, and I had no clue he was in the lane. Bad Idea.

So in my books, if the lane is there, swim it however you want. Be aware of new people who have gotten in when you get to the entry point, and above all don't start swimming until the other guy in the lane knows you are there.

That's my 2 cents.

Kevin Littler · 02-21-2007, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emartin10

I will not even try to get into a lane with a little old lady breaststroking... However, if I get into a lane with someone who is of equal ability...

For some of us this is the same thing!

Kevin Littler · 02-21-2007, 03:25 AM

Generally, around here if we are circle swimming and you aren't going to get to the end of the next lap before someone faster will catch you then it is polite to hang onto the wall and wait until they pass first.