If I understand correctly, each lane had only one person in it when you arrived? Around here in that situation, we share by each person taking one side of the lane and doing their own thing. We don't start circle swimming until there needs to be three people (or more) in a lane.

Monday night I got to the pool and each lane had at least two people and all I see are SLOW people, either breast strokers, really slow FS swimmers, or basically non-swimmers. I'm thinking "there's not a single lane I can circle swim in without always needing to pass!" You know there's something wrong with the force when I'm the fastest, most accomplished swimmer in the pool Luckily, a woman finished her swim and I got half a lane all to myself for the rest of the night.