I did a search and didn't see a dedicated thread for this topic, which was inspired by a post by Chris Stevenson in the "How Many Swimmers Per Lane" Thread. I'll reproduce Chris's quote below (I hope you don't mind!) and my response (edited for context). What do others think?
(Hopefully I didn't just miss the thread on this. Sorry if I did--I did run a search!)
As far as passing goes, it is the responsibility of the passer. The slower person should not have to stop or slow -- indeed, s/he should not do anything differently...except perhaps be aware that s/he is being passed, swim in the proper part of the lane (esp not too far to the center) and don't do anything radical like speed up or move over suddenly.
It was interesting to read Chris say that, because I have the opposite view. I think, once alerted by a tap on the feet, the person getting passed should stop at the next wall and get out of the passing person's way. Maybe I feel that way because I swim in a pool with very narrow lanes and it's just not feasible to swim around somebody. This is also the way it works in my lane (the person getting passed will stop to let the faster person by) so that might also influence my view of what is "right". But in any event it seems reasonably fair to me. It's the slower person holding the faster person up, so it seems fair that the slower person defer...
I wonder if people's views are influenced by whether they are usually the "passer" or the "passee"...
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Former Member
I was swimming in a lane to-day. Not a club workout just in open lap swim, 3 lanes for lap swimmers.
I started out in the fast lane some old guy gets into my lane and starts swimming double arm backstroke, swimming down the middle of the lane. I had just finished my 200m warm up.
I moved to the slow lane which was empty. My work out today was 200s with 1 minute rest. I did 2 really nice 200s and a little old lady gets in my lane fortunately she had been a pretty good swimmer. I let her do her first 2 lengths then I started my next 200 just before she finished 2 laps. I caught after 6 lengths. I waited a few seconds and finished my next full 200 with a slow 50. Then a couple of very slow breaststrokers got in the lane.
I moved over to the next lane which was just a medium speed lap lane. There was a nice young lady who was a competitive swimmer getting in condition to start up with a masters club. I was able to complete 2 more good 200s then two little old ladies got into that lane and started swimming a very slow breaststroke. By this time the double arm backstroker had gone to the hot tub.
Into the fast lane once more another good 200. Then three other old guys came in and started a variety of kicking, breaststroke, and backstroke and they barely moved thru the water.
Hot tub time.
I was swimming in a lane to-day. Not a club workout just in open lap swim, 3 lanes for lap swimmers.
I started out in the fast lane some old guy gets into my lane and starts swimming double arm backstroke, swimming down the middle of the lane. I had just finished my 200m warm up.
I moved to the slow lane which was empty. My work out today was 200s with 1 minute rest. I did 2 really nice 200s and a little old lady gets in my lane fortunately she had been a pretty good swimmer. I let her do her first 2 lengths then I started my next 200 just before she finished 2 laps. I caught after 6 lengths. I waited a few seconds and finished my next full 200 with a slow 50. Then a couple of very slow breaststrokers got in the lane.
I moved over to the next lane which was just a medium speed lap lane. There was a nice young lady who was a competitive swimmer getting in condition to start up with a masters club. I was able to complete 2 more good 200s then two little old ladies got into that lane and started swimming a very slow breaststroke. By this time the double arm backstroker had gone to the hot tub.
Into the fast lane once more another good 200. Then three other old guys came in and started a variety of kicking, breaststroke, and backstroke and they barely moved thru the water.
Hot tub time.