How does lane swimming work if I am a very slow swimmer?

The problem with my current pool is that we only get 1/2 the pool for lane swimming, the rest being used for lessons. So there are only 3 lanes: slow, medium and fast. I used to swim at a pool with 6 lanes. 2 slow, 2 medium and 2 fast. I would go in the faster slow lane or the slower medium lane and never had any issues with passing or being passed.

This is the first I have heard of the foot tapping thing. Sounds horrendous.
I have recently re-started swimming and am a bit too fast for the slow lane but definitely not fast enough for the medium lane. I don't mind hanging back behind slow swimmers, or sometimes overtaking them, or sometimes doubling back halfway to even out the spread of people.
You are definitely in the right lane. Enjoy your swimming!

I used to swim in a 33m pool. I like that pool length. a minute up, a minute back, then rest a minute. Repeat 10 times.

My local pool has 4 lanes and the slow is twice the width of the other lanes, also 33m long though. It’s easy to pass or be passed in the slow lane, no toe touching!

Stay in slow lane and ignore any tutting, I’m ridiculously slow myself

I’m glad the consensus is to not do the foot tapping thing. From a practical perspective I don’t really understand how you’d do it anyway - you’re moving, the other swimmer is also moving - how do you coordinate it?

Plus, what if the swimmer in front is kicking fairly vigorously? You’d risk getting kicked in the face if you tried to touch their foot.

Usually 25m.

How long is the length just out of interest

I do a length in 40 - 50 seconds. So I am just about fast enough for the middle lane, but you get men with the wing span of an albatross doing breast stroke in the narrow middle lane, because they aren't quite as fast as the fast lane crawl swimmers. So I end up in the wider slow lane, dodging the slower swimmers.

I have some nerve damage to the bottom of my feet. I wouldn't know if someone has tapped my feet.

You stay in the slow lane. If there's too many people faster than you they should be in the medium lane. You are fine and doing nothing wrong. This foot tapping thing is not a thing in the slow lane. Very rude. If someone catches up with you they can slow down to your pace until the end of the current length and then at the end they sey off first and you follow on at your own pace.

I swim every night,have done for years,never heard of foot tapping! But if anyone did it to me they would get well and truly told to NEVER do it again.

I remember signs saying "give way to faster swimmers" at my local swimming pool when I was a kid and I always thought that seemed really unfair. Now I am a member of a David Lloyd club and swim most days and I can't imagine anyone touching someone else's foot to get past. In fact, I find that people in the slower area are incredibly polite to each other - not so much in the fast lane, where they are intent on bombing up and down the lane as fast as they can (with huge spray over the next lane).

Probably a very stupid Question from a want to swim but not been for decades person:

Do all pools have these slow mid etc lanes and if you’re a newbie, how do you know? Are they marked? And do pools tell you what their etiquette is? I’m actually scared to try!

If someone did it to me it would be the end of their swimming.

Touching my feet? What is this?! I have cPTSD and really don’t want anyone touching me, especially from behind. This may well be the end of me swimming if this is a thing.

Keep going OP if someone is overtaking and not happy about it in the slow lane they are definitely the problem not you! Also foot tapping in the slow lane is and outrageous idea and I’ve literally never come across it in RL. At my gym the slow lane is for beginners and people who want to swim up and down having a chat.

i move between all three lanes- slow for a swim/chat, fast when it’s quiet and I’m on my own, medium when there’s a bloke faster than me in the fast lane!

if you are training for a race or aiming for a PB you need to be in the fast lane at a quiet time. The slow lane is not the place for aggression!

How long are the lengths?

Oh trust me. It would be the last time they ever touched me.

I agree. I’ve only heard of this recently and would not do it to anyone and if someone did it to me I would be furious. It’s so intrusive and rude.

Op you have every right to use the pool and go at your own speed. That’s what the slow lane is for. Some people walk, run, swim. You’re allowed to use the water the same as anyone else.

ive just come home from a mental health swim. My pool has one person per lane and you book in advance. It’s a novelty not to be crowded but it means you can’t just go when you want. But it does mean no one is going to touch me!

enjoy your swimming. You deserve it as much as anyone else. You don’t have to have achieved a certain speed to be able to enjoy lane swimming.

as someone above said- the best thing if there are two people in one lane is to ask them if you can use half a lane each. No need to go clockwise and keep chasing each other. You need a bit of space.

also try different times of day and night until you find a relaxed time. Well done for going and I have got so much from my swimming. I hope you do too

If anyone taps my foot whilst swimming they will be getting kicked. (ASD and I don’t react well to things like that unexpectedly).

Wouldn’t it be great if, inbetween all the use by schools, clubs, lane swimming local leisure centres could find some time for people to just have a swim. I like swimming but I’m not that good and hate lane swimming as like OP always feel I’m in the way but our local baths hardly ever has any designated time for just general swimming, it’s another of those things that makes me wonder why I pay so much council tax to help fund facilities that aren’t actually useable

I would say that's not what the slow lane is for ...

This!

Kick harder and move faster!