Questions about swimming

[Hemlocked]

I have a public swimming pool about 5 mins easy cycle ride away and I'm thinking that I might start going to improve my fitness. I'm not a strong swimmer. I can only do breast stroke and my technique is terrible, I don't know what I'm doing. My legs just flap about, etc. All my prior experience of 'swimming' is just messing about treading water in hotel swimming pools.

I've never done 'lane swimming' before. Can someone describe how it works?
-Do you have your own marked lane or will I have to share a lane with someone?
-If the latter, how do I make sure I don't get in their way?
-How are the lanes marked? Will it be obvious? -If my technique is terrible, will people notice?
-Do I need to wear a swimming hat and goggles or can I just tie my hair up?
-Is there any other etiquette I need to be aware of?
-What time of the day /day of the week is generally quietest?

Thank you.

I'm a slow Lane swimmer but wear a hat and goggles to keep my hair out of my mouth and it keeps it dry.
I can only do breast and backstroke properly. I can do the strokes of front crawl but can't do the breathing. As pp suggested lessons are a good idea.
In the slow lane where I go there are some very slow swimmers and some who are doing physio at one end. If I'm going faster than someone I just swim round them.

I do find it great overall exercise, feel better afterwards.

Highly recommend a handful of adult swim lessons

When I started swimming I did “time in pool” rather than lengths. I did count them, but it didn’t matter, I was there to improve my fitness and technique.