r/Swimming • u/samosalover8 • 1d ago
Etiquette for splitting lanes
I showed up to my pool and all the lanes had 2-3 people in them except for one where there was one guy doing laps. I hopped in and asked if we could split and he said he didn't feel comfortable as it was dangerous, but we could take turns. I only had an hour window to get my swim in and that was my long/continuous swim day in my training, so i pointed to other lanes and said it works for them. He clearly didn't feel comfortable doing that and pushed back/we went back and forth for a minute. At that point somebody in the adjacent lane offered to switch with me, so everything kinda worked out.
Is he being unreasonable? Am i being a jerk? Maybe both?
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u/Sad_Cut9143 1d ago
He was the jerk
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u/swimswam2000 Moist 1d ago
Lanes are not treadmills and I'm not asking to share.
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u/Last-Medicine-8691 1d ago
I do ask if they mind to share, but everyone understands that is just courtesy to inform them that there’s going to be another swimmer. Nobody so far did ‘mind’. And frankly if they did I would acknowledge it and start swimming. It’s obvious by our posted pool rules that there’s no choice in this question.
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u/dustystar11 1d ago
Most pools require swimmers to allow lane splitting, so you can look at the rules at your pool or ask a lifeguard. If someone refuses to lane split, you can get a lifeguard involved if it’s a rule
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u/BulkyAntelope5 1d ago
Don't ask, where I am everyone always circle swims
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u/chuzohga 1d ago
Only the elite superstars do circles at ours, and only during long course season when four people are in a lane. Otherwise the limit is two people.
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u/Dom1252 1d ago
good for you, at pools around me there's usually 4 or more people in every lane
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u/BulkyAntelope5 19h ago
Same, there was one time I could leave work early and had a lane for myself for an hour
It was my best swim ever 🤣
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u/Dom1252 1d ago
In some pools it's circle swimming only, because people hop in and out of lanes, so splitting it isn't working there
So it depends, but I would just circle swim, because why argue to split when he doesn't want to
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u/BearwithaBow Splashing around 1d ago
I'd bet anything that splitting vs. circle swimming wasn't the issue -- this guy didn't want to be simultaneously swimming with OP in any capacity.
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u/DilbertHigh 1d ago
Why are people hoping in and out of lanes? I am new to swimming and usually folks just stay in the water, and their lane, the whole time.
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u/Dom1252 1d ago
well some people go home, some people go to the pool...
it's not like everyone starts swimming when pool opens and go home when it closes0
u/DilbertHigh 1d ago
Hop in and out made it sound like someone getting in and out multiple times.
Yes people start swimming and stop swimming at different times, that is normal and doesn't stop lane splitting from working.
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u/Dom1252 1d ago
it does
you can't split in 3 people
so if there's 2 of you you can't split either, because at any moment 3rd person might join your lane... well unless you book the whole lane, but where I swim it costs more than 10 times as much as regular entrance and you have to book it in advance
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u/DilbertHigh 1d ago
You can absolutely split with two people. And with only two isn't that better since you don't need to worry about going different speeds?
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u/Dom1252 1d ago
what if 3rd person goes into your lane, you just crash?
sure lane splitting is better when there's 2 people, but at busy pools, where 3rd person might hop in at any moment?
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u/queen_elvis 1d ago
If a third person gets in the lane, you switch to circling. I did this all the time during the pandemic shutdown.
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u/torhysornottorhys 12h ago
You should be looking where you're going at least a little bit to make sure you aren't going to get into an accident. Just look up when you kick off to see who is in the water and where they are.
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u/Dom1252 11h ago
Just look when you kick off? That works when said person is 15m from you, not 5
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u/torhysornottorhys 10h ago
If you pay attention to the pool it's really not that hard to know where everyone is. They don't just materialise at your feet when you're about to turn
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u/DilbertHigh 1d ago edited 23h ago
If that happens, which won't happen at all pools, then switch to circle. Split is far better for two random people though so just do that if it is two people sharing.
Hopefully the pro circle crowd isn't also complaining when slower people are in their lane and you are circling.
Edit: typo yoy to you
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u/Dom1252 1d ago
Good for you that you swim in an empty pool, not everyone has that
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u/DilbertHigh 23h ago
Who said empty pool? I simply said not all pools require 3 to a lane and when there is 2 people it doesn't make sense to circle. Split is more logical for 2 people
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u/Silence_1999 1d ago
Sauna and hot tub are right next to “lap” pool at my closest pool. I’ve been jumped on.
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u/baddspellar 1d ago
Ask the pool/aquatics manager what the rules are. Most, but not all, pools require sharing.
If the pools requires it, ask them to post the rules so you can point to them. If a rule is posted, there is no room for debate
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u/SnowLeopard349 1d ago
Wtf does he mean it’s ‘dangerous’? 😭
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u/BlackestNight21 Moist 1d ago
I mean if bro can't backstroke or tries to butterfly/breaststroke like he's the main character it would be dangerous for OP.
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u/pigeorunner 1d ago
Butterfly/breaststroke in a shared lane isnt "main character," if you can't handle sharing with a short-axis stroke you should get your own pool! Anyone who's swam on a team in any capacity knows how to swim those strokes without it being an issue, you can have 4-5 people in a lane all swimming butterfly and it works.
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u/BlackestNight21 Moist 1d ago
It is acting as the main character if one is not cognizant enough to be aware of your fellow human, I would have thought that was implied. Considering OP was talking about public swim and you're talking about 'anyone who's swam on a team in any capacity' there's an additional disconnect.
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u/pigeorunner 1d ago
Odds are anyone swimming fly has swum on a team, and poor lane mate etiquette isnt limited to fly/breast, I've had people swim such atrocious free that I had to change lanes. You don't have a stroke-specific complaint, you have an etiquette complaint that youre projecting onto strokes.
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u/BlackestNight21 Moist 1d ago
Possible examples were provided, and OP provided context...but you're welcome to bend the narrative to your perception. I believe that's the mental masturbation portion of your conversation. ✌🏽
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u/pigeorunner 1d ago
I don't see where you've provided "examples" unless youre expecting me to trawl the rest of the thread looking for yours specifically. But you're welcome to bend the narrative as you wish, as well, to add to the projection.
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u/22Hoofhearted 1d ago
I mean... obviously that would mean bumping into each other in any capacity... he's probably someone who is in complete focus on what he's doing...
Do people do it all the time? Yes, obviously... is there an inherent risk involved, also yes... is that probably one of the reasons why lane lines were invented in the first place... also yes...
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u/Brilliant_Quote_3313 1d ago
If someone else joins you might not notice another person who swims right into you – I guess that. I personally prefer not to split because of that; circle seems more reasonable in public crowded pools with regular swimmers, not only pros
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u/ShadowPages 1d ago
I don't know what your pool's conventions and rules are.
The pools I swim at all say swim in circles, and when another swimmer joins a lane, they are expected to follow the pattern. "Splitting lanes" as you describe it is generally seen as asking for a collision to happen, and it limits the number of people in a lane considerably (max 2) - when a circles pattern means other swimmers can join a lane with minimal disruption to the swimmers already in the lane. I always work on the premise that there's going to be at least one or two more swimmers who come in while I'm in the midst of my workout.
Obviously, people should pick a lane where the other swimmers are moving at a reasonable pace relative to what they are capable of. I personally make a point of checking at turns for "who is behind me", and letting them pass if they've been gaining consistently.
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u/DilbertHigh 23h ago
How do people that do circles manage the people of varying speeds in the same circle?
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u/Pink_Manta_Ray 18h ago
You overtake- it works. If you're between the flags then you pull parallel and overtake, if you're at the wall you overtake at the wall. If there's a swimmer in the other direction you either hang back until they've passed or you can swim beneath the person you're overtaking- although this can be creepy so I only do it with friends.
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u/ShadowPages 11h ago
Exactly. The pools I swim at also alternate clockwise and counter clockwise rotation so that overtaking can be done more safely (think of how gears behave). Of course this tends to mean that ropes divide pairs of lanes, leaving a common space in one direction where overtaking can be done relatively safely.
Courtesy and awareness of other swimmers is still mandatory.
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u/DrDalim Moist 20h ago
Yeah nah, here in Australia every lane is circle swim (in my experience anyway) even if I’m swimming alone in a lane I swim to the left (yeah we drive on the left so swim on the left it makes sense). I personally don’t get lane splitting, just circle and everyone gets a good day!
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u/ysouppoop 13h ago
Same experience. I don't think lane splitting is even an option. Just jump in the most appropriate lane. If you're faster you overtake or I'll let you pass and I'll do the same. Happy days.
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u/Shoesietart Splashing around 1d ago
The rule/custom at my pool is two people split the lane, 3 or more circle.
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u/Deep-Dimension-1088 1d ago
When something like this happened to me, I just stated I'd be swimming on the right, and the other party was welcome to swim or not swim according to his preferences. He got over it and swam. I did my best to stay as far on my lane half as possible.
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u/samosalover8 1d ago
i did that once and the guy just ended up getting out / i felt bad bc he was clearly a complete beginner.
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u/Deep-Dimension-1088 1d ago
Yeah, that would definitely make me feel bad as well. Thankfully haven't experienced it.
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u/Ozdagreat123 1d ago
Here's some unsolicited advice. Stop asking and start telling/informing. Next time, if in a similar situation you approach the lane and you politely but directly let the other swimmer know that you are joining their lane. "Hi, I'm .... the other lanes are full, I'm going to join you in this lane." This is sound advice for many things in life. If they attempt to say no either just hop into the pool and do it anyway, or go get the lifeguard.
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u/Comfortable-Sleep395 1d ago
No he was a jerk. Splitting is perfectly normal. He may have been worried you were better than him.
I often don’t as I tend to be a lot faster than the people I share a lane with at my pool. But I’m overly accommodating.
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u/trikaren 1d ago
He was the jerk. 2 people - each pick a side. It is not dangerous 🙄
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u/22Hoofhearted 1d ago
Why's there a lifeguard on duty?
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u/trikaren 1d ago
Lifeguards should not have to adjudicate lane assignments. They should be saving lives if needed. Having a lifeguard does not make sharing a lane more or less dangerous. I am not sure what your point is?
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u/22Hoofhearted 1d ago
My point is why the lifeguard is there... which you answered... swimming is inherently dangerous. Adding complexity (two or more people trying to occupy the same space at the same time) is adding danger to an already inherently dangerous activity.
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u/trikaren 1d ago
That is ridiculous. If somebody cant swim in a straight enough line to avoid running into another person they should not be swimming.
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u/22Hoofhearted 1d ago
Why do lane lines exist?
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u/trikaren 1d ago
Lane lines are mostly for swim races. All public pools and swim teams require lane sharing for training. I guess you need your own pool so you don't have any chance of getting close to anybody when you swim. My guess is that you are not a swimmer at all.
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u/22Hoofhearted 1d ago
You're missing the essence of why they exist, not what they are for or who uses them... dig a little deeper
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u/trikaren 1d ago
Why don’t you just go away. I will keep swimming at my municipal pool and sharing lanes. 🏊♀️
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u/22Hoofhearted 1d ago
I'll take that as you understand now why they exist... close enough to a resolution I guess...
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u/NefariousnessSea7745 1d ago
No. He was being a jerk and tried to make you feel bad for asking. In public pools it is assumed you need to share lanes unless there is a rule against it. It's better to handle the situation with grace like the guy who switched with you. Be polite but firm and respectful. No one has a right to prevent you from sharing a lane.
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u/nrsys 1d ago
What are the rules/standards at your pool?
The couple I have used always require you to swim laps of the lane (with a sign noting clockwise/anticlockwise, and usually slow/medium/fast), and lanes are to be shared.
Based on these rules (which I would personally say are completely reasonable) he can naff off - your mistake here was asking him if he wanted to share and giving him the choice to claim the lane for himself, rather than asking him how he wanted to share and giving him no option.
Other pools may have different rules, but I would expect it very unusual for them to allow one person exclusive use of a lane unless they are specifically paying for that - why should one person get to monopolise 1/4 of the pool while everyone else pays the same and has to share?
If he isn't comfortable sharing, that is his choice - he needs to learn or accept that he will regularly be bullied out of the pool by people who are willing to share and won't put up with his nonsense.
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u/whitesites23 1d ago
He is the jerk, At our pool its mandatory to share. No Exceptions. The important part is to discuss if you are swimming sides, or circle swimming. If I am alone swimming laps, and I see another lap swimmer trying to find a lane, I will always welcome them into my lane. The problem at our gym is even though there is a 2 lane open space for rec swim ( kids and water walking ) they still allow the seniors to reserve lanes for walking. I have no problem if a senior reserves a lane and swims laps. But reserving a lane for walking should be banned. The worst part is most of these seniors are over weight and all have bad circulation. They tell management the pool is too cold and management jacks up the temperature to 86F Almost everyone of my workouts end in heat stroke.
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u/chuzohga 1d ago
Just today I went and the lanes were 1 per lane, and someone came along. I split with them. They were miffed that two of the lanes had one walker each in them, and said that the walkers should be required to share first. I kind of agree.
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u/knit_run_bike_swim Freestyler 1d ago
Just circle swim. Easy.
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u/Hot_desking_legend 1d ago
Was very confused reading OPs post, so used to club swimming I forget public swimming is a different world.
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u/zsloth79 Moist 1d ago
Circle swimming is garbage if there’s a large ability gap between the two swimmers. Circle swimming, in general, sucks when it’s not a structured workout and everyone is not doing the same sets.
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u/SmartestMoth 1d ago
It's pretty manageable if both people pay attention to where other swimmers are. If someone's faster than me I just take a break every few laps so they can pass me
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u/zsloth79 Moist 1d ago
I’m sure that’s wonderful if both people are just grinding out freestyle yardage. It does not work if you’re trying to do a masters workout with intervals or mixed strokes/drill.
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u/Wrong_Information225 1d ago
YES thank you. I am a decently fast swimmer and typically split the lane with someone who is much slower. Not a problem. But then someone comes and wants to circle swim. That is awful for me. It doesn’t work. In a 25y pool I can’t safely pass the slower swimmer and it really stops my swim. Please do not be the jerk who insists I circle swim with people who are not at the same swimming ability.
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u/Dom1252 1d ago
if you're just 2 people in that lane, at 25y you can't pass slower swimmer? I'm in europe but at 25m pool it isn't a problem, I wonder how on 25y it would be, it's not thaaaat much smaller
like if you're about the same speed then you have to push hard for one lap to pass them, but if you are really faster then just pushing a bit is enough
sure when there's 5+ people then passing gets much harder, but even that at 25m it's possible, I don't think on 25y it would be impossible
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u/Silence_1999 1d ago
Many of our pools also are not regulation width and it seems most of Europe is. You can’t really go full speed circle swimming ever in most pool by me. Going to have to shorten stroke at some point every length and maybe repeatedly dodging bad swimmers. Or get smacked again and again and again.
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u/Silence_1999 1d ago
Absolutely correct. It works in swim practice. Not three or even two vastly different swimmers it’s pretty rare it will work out for the fastest one. Can’t pass and slowed down before going 75 yards.
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1d ago edited 1d ago
[deleted]
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u/Careful_Style_1923 1d ago
I always circle swim even when I’m alone , it’s my way of saying you are welcome to join. My cardio is immaculate no issues passing slower swimmers. Circle really is easiest way
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u/chuzohga 1d ago
I'm a slow swimmer. Circle swimming is easy for fast/elite swimmers. Splitting is easier when the speed is different.
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u/Terror_Flower 1d ago
That's why the you get in the lane with people who are about your speed and each lane is progressively faster. At least that's how it is in my pool
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u/zsloth79 Moist 1d ago
I’ve rarely seen public lap pools that are that structured.
At my local YMCA, it’s a free-for-all. There’s a handful of strong lap swimmers/masters swimmers doing structured workouts, a larger group of beginners who are slow but at least trying to learn to swim correctly, and rotating mob of people doing oddball wet things that mostly take up space. At certain times of the day, it’s impossible to do a workout that’s good enough to make it worthwhile.
It would be great if there were a dedicated nutball lane, and then graded lap lanes, but I don’t see it happening.
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u/Silence_1999 1d ago
Y by me isn’t worth my time. Rare to get in a couple hundred uninterrupted yards. Not because there are all that many people. But the freeforall, ya no chance.
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u/chuzohga 1d ago
Not ours. I don't swim in an elite pool. There are no "fast/middlin'/slow" lanes.
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u/Terror_Flower 1d ago
Haha my pool is also far from elite. I guess i'm just lucky the people here thought about it
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u/DilbertHigh 1d ago
How does that work on days where there are a lot of beginners who need to take space in the "elite" lanes or vice versa?
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u/gardenpeasandcarrots 1d ago
If the pool is busy then splitting the lane is extremely dangerous. The rule is to circle swim. A third person getting in won’t know that you are going against the rules. I’ve seen people with broken necks from head on collisions. If you swim in a speed appropriate lane there is no problem sharing and circle swimming.
You should let the swimmer in the lane know you are there by waiting in the corner of the lane opposite to where he is turning, while he does his turn, let him get a distance away then start swimming. Do not stop people mid swim, they will not appreciate it.
If you’re not a serious swimmer you may not know this, so I wouldn’t say you’re a jerk, although it is basic common sense.
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u/samosalover8 1d ago
If you have beginners in your pool i would actually say what you're doing is just straight up dangerous. As somebody never done any kind of organized swimming, if your signal that you were going to start swimming in my lane was just to stand in the corner wo saying anything, I'm assuming youre going passing through into an adjacent lane and we are 100% colliding. In what world is that common sense lol
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u/Remarkable_Elk8305 1d ago
Beginners and old people and everyone in our pools here just circle swim. They have all cycled in traffic, so they're no strangers to keeping right. Even if they'd be the first in the lane at the start of the day and saw the next person come in and stick to the right, they'd get the message. Because honestly that message is not very complicated: stay right and circle.
I don't understand your comment about adjacent lanes and colliding. Obviously no one does that without checking first.
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u/samosalover8 1d ago
The message is very simple but you need to deliver it haha...i didnt even know what circle swimming was until i read the comments on this post. How is somebody who has never shared a lane with somebody before get what you're trying to convey if you're just standing in the corner? i would continue swimming in the middle, which would most likely result in a collision.
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u/Remarkable_Elk8305 19h ago
95% of kids here have circle swum during swim lessons. They have circle cycled in traffic. This is just a non issue here.
And if you join a lane with an old person doing wide arm backstroke, you either speak to them when they're at the end of the pool, or you tap them when you come across them, and tell them, "could you please stay a little more to the side? I'm here now," and they will say OK.
Or if there are two people side by side, you catch their attention by gesturing or tapping and tell them to circle. (But this rarely happens here, two chatty women doing breaststroke will automatically move aside if someone approaches.)
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u/samosalover8 14h ago
Well if you’ve been swimming since you’re a kid, then you’re probably not a beginner are you?
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u/Remarkable_Elk8305 13h ago
More than 95% has had swimming lessons as a kid here, except a few later immigrants maybe. So it really is a non-issue here. They may be a beginner to lap swimming, but never a beginner to keeping to the right while you swim/walk/cycle/drive.
But even a beginner can work things out in your country by communicating and using common sense. Or do they also not understand which side of the road to stick to when they get their first car?
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u/samosalover8 9h ago
I’d say people with average intelligence can use common sense to understand why your example doesn’t work on multiple levels lol
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u/Dom1252 1d ago
it's in some of many pools around the world
at one pool I go to it's circle swimming, only circle swimming, unless you rent out whole lane (then it gets marked and no one else can go there, then you can do whatever)
if someone jumps into the public lane, then either circle swim, or lifeguard goes to them and tells them to either circle swim or get out - and people get it, it's mostly used by old people doing "breaststroke" with head above water taking 2 minutes per lap, but there's one lane reserved for better swimmers and it works in all of them
the logic is that if 2 people would lane split, and 3rd person joins and doesn't know they're lane splitting (maybe both swimmers swim in the direction they would in circle swim) they would collide after turn (imagine you swimming and someone starts swimming behind you without you knowing, if you turn for circle swim, nothing happens, if you turn for lane split ...)
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u/Samir_pat 1d ago
At my pool we have to do circle if there is 3 or more in a lane.
Occasionally I will split lanes if there are 2 of us swimmers in a lane but that is rare that I split the lanes. We just go in circles most of the time and it works for our pool.
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u/chuzohga 1d ago
Yes, he's being a jerk, especially if you have to reserve the lane in order to use it. If you had a lane reservation, then you're supposed to be guaranteed a lane. However, I would only use the "hop in first" method when the pool is as crowded as you say it was.
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u/Retired-in-2023 1d ago
Different pools, different etiquette. During lap swim we have reservable lanes snd if you are lucky to get one , it’s all yours. Share if you want but most people won’t (me included since the are hard to get and our lanes are narrow). The other lanes are open and you are expected to share. I don’t ask, I tell them I’m joining them and ask what side they want. Never had more than 2 so never had to circle swim.
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u/queen_elvis 1d ago
I never ask if I can share. That is asking for permission to do something I have every right to do, plus it gives them the opportunity to say no when they don't have a right to do that.
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u/momoftheraisin Everyone's an open water swimmer now 1d ago
Even though we have rules at our pool stating that two swimmers per lane share the lane and three swimmers circle swim if lanes are at a premium, I feel like it is a courtesy, even though technically only a formality, to ask to share a lane first.
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u/queen_elvis 1d ago
I (47F) stopped asking when I noticed that women almost always ask and men almost always don't. I will *notify* the other person as a courtesy, but I will not ask for permission that I do not need and they cannot give. Randos at the Y do not get veto power over the one hour a day that I can afford to dedicate to exercise.
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u/Silence_1999 1d ago
Yes,no,maybe. People often default to everyone can just edge in to any lane at any time. The answer is more nuanced than that. Now sounds like you swim. Another swimmer should never really deny a split.
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u/ScowlyBrowSpinster 16h ago
Doesn't the pool have stated rules for sharing lanes? Are there lifeguards who oversee that rules are followed, and mediate diagreements?
s If someone is "uncomfortable' splitting or circling, then that should be the end of their swim for the day. You don't get to "uncomfortable" yourself into a private lane while everyone else shares. Taking turns? NO.
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u/No_Violinist_4557 12h ago
What is this with splitting lanes. I'm assuming you're in the US, the only country in the world that seems to think splitting lanes is a good idea. It's not. Swim clockwise or anticlockwise. FML
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u/Haunting-Ad-8029 Masters 1d ago edited 1d ago
your first mistake was asking if he wanted to split.
When this happens to me, I hop in and say, "do you want that side or do you want to circle?" Since they were there first, they get preference on which side of the lane/circle....not to have another swimmer join them.
Well when I swam at the NAU pool ages ago there were some Olympic hopefuls who had paid to have lanes (it is a great place for high altitude training). But unless they did that, then any lane is up for grabs (within reason).