Another pool etiquette question:

Well I'll answer the question from the other side.

I'm slow (2:30 per 100 over distance) so I don't pass much, I get passed.  That said, I don't mind getting passed at all, as long as it is in a consistent manner.  If I'm in the middle of a 1k rhythm when someone wants to split the lane I will probably notice them get in but not break my stroke to acknowledge them much. 

If this were me I probably would have naturally split the lane as you suggest.  However, I have been passed before, split the lane, and then the person is doing the follow and pass thing instead of splitting the lane.  I'm fine with that too as long as I know what to expect.

I also hate the toe tap thing.  I would prefer to just get passed.

I'm not sure from what you relate here but is it also possible she didn't have much practice in splitting lanes?  I know when I first started I had no clue so I tried to just hold a straight line and figure out what the better swimmer wanted me to do.  Now that I have a small clue I at least know what to expect and can acknowledge people better without stopping.

 Just my thoughts from the slow end 8)

If she's really slow and won't split the lane, I'd either use it as a fartlek - like an above poster said, or switch to a faster lane, even if it's more crowded. It sounds like she really, really didn't want to be bothered.

Just pass her.  It's not that big of a deal.

IMO, she should stop and ask if you want to split, but she didn't - so since she was the first swimmer there - follow what she's doing.

If you are coming up on her with enough space for you to pass and get to the wall before she does, just speed up a little and pass her, hit the wall before she does and then you're back to normal until you catch up again. 

If there's not enough space for you to pass her cause she's almost to the wall, just turn around in the pool and go back the other way.  Or wait till you've turned around and just pass her as above.

Both are good ways to work on speed in the middle of a long set.  When it's me passing (rare event) I try and focus on my pull as I'm passing - and then getting back into my regular swim rhythm as soon as possible after the pass.

I would jump in the lane and stand where it would prevent her from doing the next flip turn until she acknowledged me.  Then I would ask which side she preferred, ok, I'll take the other side.

 I can tell long before I get to the wall that someone wants in the lane.  There's no reason not to acknowledge someone who's waiting, and if you take 5 seconds of her time, so what?

It does seem that the issue is not "what to do?" but her lack of acknowledgement.  Any discussions of what to do have to stem from there.

To talk about etiquette requires that one would actually acknowledge the other... if not, I totally like the fake poopie solution. 

Peace. 

 Simple and elegant solution...

OK maybe not elegant but I like it anyway.

8)

if the olds are bugging you swim past them super fast and kick really hard. its soon pisses them off and they move.

as for the op - tbh if i was doing a timed swim i wouldn't want to stop and discuss lane etiquette - just get in, do your own thign and pass as nicely as possible.