Why is it so hard to find a gym partner who actually shows up?

I’m tired of asking my friends to lift with me. They always flake at the last minute or just want to walk on the treadmill while scrolling TikTok. I want someone who is serious about hitting PRs and spotting me on bench. I’ve tried posting on my gym’s bulletin board and even swiped on Bumble BFF, but no luck. Are there any dedicated apps for finding workout buddies that aren't secretly dating sites?

I joined a local CrossFit box specifically for this reason. The community aspect is built-in, so you don't have to hunt for partners. Everyone suffers together! It’s expensive compared to a standard gym membership, but the accountability you get from the group is unmatched.

I tried a few of those active lifestyle dating sites hoping to find a running partner, even though I wasn't really looking for romance. It was a disaster. I ended up browsing https://fitness-singles.pissedconsumer.com/review.html just to see if the site was actually active or a ghost town before I renewed my subscription. It seems like most people there are looking for marriage, not a spotter. I ultimately had better luck joining a local running club on Strava. It’s free, and the people actually show up for the 6 AM runs.