How to keep your personal items safe at the gym

Abigail Ali News Editor

At the gym, lockers are a great way to keep personal items safe but are sometimes intimidating for first-time users. Gym staff members break down how to use lockers and give tips for remembering locker combinations and numbers.

Carmichael Gym has two options for keeping visitors’ items safe while they work out: day-use lockers and overnight lockers. Jason Spivey, associate director for Wellness and Recreation, said day-use lockers are free, available in most spaces around the gym and have built in locks, but many people use the lockers without actually locking them, making their items susceptible to being stolen.

“We have an abundance of lockers in almost every space that we have,” Spivey said. “And those lockers come with locks built into them, so you don’t even have to have [your own] lock. … I would encourage everybody to put stuff in lockers and then to actually lock the locker. A lot of times people will just put stuff in lockers but not lock it. And that’s really not doing what it’s supposed to do.”

Spivey said day-use lockers are meant for temporary use and work by allowing users to set a new lock code each time it gets used. To set a new lock code, users should pick an unlocked locker, while it is unlocked, set a new code using the dials, close the locker and scramble the numbers so it locks.

Leo Jaffe, graduate student in public administration and program assistant facility operations for Wellness and Recreation, said many gym-goers don’t use the lockers because they aren’t sure how to use them.

“A lot of times students, they’re a little hesitant to use lockers only because they may not know how to use them,” Jaffe said. “We do have infographics in our main hallway and I think on [the second] floor as well.”

Jaffe said gym staff are also available to assist users with the lockers.

“Our staff is completely available to teach users how to unlock and lock a locker,” Jaffe said. “And more often than not, for users who do have trouble opening the locker, our staff is more than happy to … open the locker for them. There’s never a bad time to ask our staff for assistance with unlocking a locker.”

Jaffe and Spivey recommend either writing your locker number and combination in your notes app or taking a photo to make finding and unlocking your locker easier.

“Take a photo [with] your phone,” Spivey said. “I think one of the challenges is that all the lockers look the same, so I think just having an awareness of what bank of lockers you used, and taking a photo of the area, or of the locker specifically just helps.”

Spivey said gym-goers can also rent overnight lockers, which can be more comfortable since users would become familiar with a spe- cific locker and its lock.

“If students are really hesitant because they don’t want to feel like they don’t know how to use day-use lockers, we also have overnight lockers that they can rent,” Spivey said.

Visit technicianonline.com to view the entire article.