I would think so, I know if I'm sharing a lane, and swimming breast stroke, I hold off on kicking until the other someone has safely passed. For Rude!!!

I'm guessing they aren't very good with their breast stroke or they were just a bit close to the center of the lane. I'm really guessing it's their kick, some people go very wide. Maybe the lanes are narrower, I don't know.

I come from a swimming background and have practiced with up to 6 - 8 people in a lane at the same time. Have done breast stroke with that many people and have had very few issues of kicking others. We end up having more issues with the butterfly because of the wide arm stroke. As a matter of fact, when I was swimming the backstroke this morning, I hit / touched 2 people with my stroke in the lane next to me because I was took close to the lane line, so it can be anything.

If we ever did get a good un-intensional hit in we would apologize, not sure why this person wouldn't do that.

Again I think they don't have the proper kick technique down for the breast stroke and they are going a bit wide.

The same thing happened to me this morning!!! I was about 3/4 mile into my swim when a lady jumped in to my lane (didn't bother to ask me) and was doing the breast stroke with frequent "dolphin dives". I know she was definitely taking about 2/3 the lane because of her size (hey at least she's out there!). I was also kicked twice (no apologies) and I smacked my hand numerous times on the lane divider to accommodate her. I quit at the mile mark. What I don't get is that there were 2 other lanes with people doing very similar light swim exercises and the one with me practicing to set a world record. (LOL!) You would think you would let the guy in lane 2, who has an obvious rhythm going, continue his workout and choose another lane with people doing the same thing as you're planning on doing! I don't think people get the whole "lap swim" courtesy thing. Especially those that don't categorize themselves as "lap swimmers", you know, the ones that walk half of the lap, float around, and go from a back, to breast, to side stroke in a single lap.
I'm thinking of asking the gym staff to post a sign outlining common courtesies for lap swimming, because this wasn't the first or probably last time it will happen, but at least people who are not aware, can be educated and make appropriate changes.

Yeah people are great I once had a lady who couldn't get my attention while I was swimming so she decided she would jump on my back while I was doing sprints. She almost broke my spine, I was pissed and ready to start screaming but I took a deep breath and just said the lanes all yours and left. Whenever I see her at the gym I stare at her until she looks away so she never forgets my face or gets in my lane again. As far as someone kicking you look to see if someone is of your ability in a different lane and ask if you can join them.

a few weeks ago, this woman and I were splittling a lane when all of a sudden, a guy just swims under the ropes and joins us in the middle of the pool. She and I are both fairly fast swimmers, and this guy was doing a very slow breast stroke/ sidestroke combo; we looked and each other and looked at him, till he stopped and said "innocently", "I thought we could circle" Well, maybe we could, if we all sort of swam the same speed. My original lane mate was so disgusted, she decided to be done with her workout. I don't know what we would have done otherwise...

If I need to get someones attention I will squat at the edge of the pool and sometimes that will get there attention, unless they are oblivious to all the lanes being full and if that doesn't work I will wait until they stop or another lane opens up and if all else fails I will wave my hand in the water making sure not to hit them (last resort, pool has to be real busy and good swimmers if no one stops). Sometimes if the pool is crowded but not to bad I will take a side and the other swimmer takes the other side, then you don't have to worry about passing although sometimes I have to add a glide as I pass, but still get in a pretty good workout without having to wait at the wall or pass like crazy. If those don't work jump on their backs and pass with a kick to the side and they will probably leave (just kidding).

1) Usually with a wave in the water or sit on the edge with you feet in the water off to one side. If they don't acknowledge you in two turns then the jump on the back approach definately works. :) , seriously, then if you are of the same ability just stand at the end until they turn again, then follow. They cannot deny missing you after two three turns.

2) Passing is pretty easy if everyone is educated. Tickle the persons feet in front of you once or twice and they should wait at the wall and let you pass, before they continue on.

If people you share the pool with dont know the etiquette, then educate them nicely. They want to have just as an enjoyable swim experience as you do.

Like triNick, I come from a swimming background and would swim with 6-10 people/lane at practice. Generally, when swimming butterfly swimmers would shorten one of their arm's stroke to avoid smashing it into another swimmer's arm. Same rule or etiquette applies to breastroke kicking.

For experienced swimmers, I think it's just an acquired reaction to countless laps in a pool and reinforcement after smashing limbs into other swimmers (a la baby touches hot stove). Proper circle swimming should alleviate most contact b/w swimmers though.

A lot of pools have lanes marked with paces (i.e. Lanes 1-2 slow, Lanes 3-4 moderate, 5-6 fast). If your pool doesn't have this, ask the manager to order a sign or even draw one up with a dry erase board and place it behind the lanes. This should solve for placing people with similar paces in the same lane.

Another take on this could just be that this annoyance in a pool translates into valuable experience for a tri. As an experienced, fast swimmer, I remember in my first tri I was infuriated b/c I couldn't get a comfortable pace going nor proper technique b/c I was soo tangled with other swimmers and making constant contact until the last few minutes when I could finally break from the clutter.