Jewel

Curious for those who use only one pannier, which side do you keep your pannier on? Left (traffic-side) or Right (curbside).

I've heard the arguments regarding advantages/disadvantages of left side (positive: it keeps a buffer from the traffic & could slow cars) or (negative: a car has a better chance of snagging a full pannier and taking you down).

Would be curious to know what side you keep your pannier on and the reason. FWIW, I've been keeping mine on the left.

no motor?

Right side here - it allows me to get at what's in the pannier with less trouble, and keeps the PBSF mounted on the left rear leg of the rack from getting moved around by the pannier. Plus it's where the fashion police told me to mount it.

spivonious

Both

If I did just run one, I'd put it on the left. It would lessen the risk of a car clipping my elbow. If the car is close enough to snag on the bag, I'm getting hit anyway.

fietsbob

When I do use 1 rear Pannier, since it doesn't prompt the bike to topple over on it's kickstand,
I have the bag on the Rt side.

I often pack Both Ortlieb roller bags in one, to head off for groceries ,

I can stow all 4, empty, in 1 rear bag.

no1mad 

Right side- if for no other reason than that the bag might jump off and hopefully will not land in the flow of traffic.

Matariki

I use the right side one simply because it's easier to get on and off because of way my rack trunk bag mounts. Without the rack trunk, I would probably use the left one to make myself a little more obvious to traffic.

xtrajack

If I were to ride with only one pannier, it would be on the curbside. No particular rationale, just feels right.

Papa Tom

When I only use one, it's on my left side, opposite the derailleur to avoid loose straps, strings, etc. getting stuck in the chain.

bikemig 

I run one pannier when commuting and alway run it on the left. My bag has reflective material and I want it on the outside.

Giant Doofus

I usually have just one on the bike. I alternate which side so that the two bags wear roughly evenly.

rommer25

I ride with on pannier. I ride with it on the left. I have a light attached to it so I want it on the traffic side.

fourknees

Right side. I figure the movement of my left leg (and pedal reflector when dark) may be more visible/eye catching than the opposite.

gregjones

Same here. Not worried about it falling off. Sometimes I get carried away and buy a little much to fit nicely. If something falls off or a bungee breaks, maybe it would end up in the grass and I can get it without much harm.

ThermionicScott 

Left, because that's my mount/dismount side.

SGocka

Same here. It is also easier to get in and out of how I put my bike at work.

rekmeyata

I keep mine on the left side due to the chain and gears but if the pannier is on right that shouldn't be a problem anyways, I do it that way because it seems from people I talk to that that is tradition. I don't do it as a buffer, a pannier makes a very poor buffer.

cooker

Left, but only because if I put it on the right it causes the fender to rub intermittently on the tire. Just a little assymetry in the rear rack and fender.

dedhed

Left, traffic side for the lights and reflective material and how it parks at home & work the right side is up against things.

woodway

Right. I use a bar-end mirror on the left side and the pannier can block some of the view. Plus, my shoes and tights have reflective material on them, and I don't want the reflective motion to be blocked by the pannier.

urbanescapee

Right side. Sometime I feel like I ought to have it on the left for reasons mentioned above (buffer from traffic?, reflective accents on the pannier...) but I keep it on the right anyways. My reasons for keeping it on the right are that I mount my bike from the left side, so I don't kick my pannier when I swing my leg over. Also, from experience, I have learned that when the bike goes down in a crash, the pannier on the right side is more likely to protect the drive train from damage. Lastly, I have a kickstand, so loading/unloading the pannier on the right side of the bike is easier and keeps the bike more balanced when parked on the kickstand.

Sixty Fiver

Left / traffic side... puts the reflective material outboard.

tsl

Same side as your "landing gear". Most cyclists prefer to put down one foot over the other at a stop. This is what I call the "landing gear" side.

When carrying heavier loads, this keeps the bike leaning towards you at a stop, rather than trying to fall away from you. This also meansthat when starting again, your first pedal stroke is opposite the weight of the pannier--easier balance. When running two panniers, keep the heavier of the two on the "landing gear" side.

DVC45

Same here. For the same reasons.

mikeybikes

My pannier is bright yellow. I keep it on the left.

cyclokitty 

I prefer a single pannier on the right side. I get off the bike on the left and with the pannier on the opposite side, it feels less likely that the bike could topple over.