IslandTimePE

Random cycling-related question of the day......

While out on my ride today, I started thinking about how I dismount from the bike - not something I have ever really considered before - no idea why it came into my head today. As best I can remember, I have always dismounted on the right, never the left. In fact I suspect there would be a relatively high probability I would fall over trying to exit stage left.

So here are some questions:

1) is it unusual or typical that I can only dismount one direction?
2) does it really matter? Can anyone come up with scenarios with it is legitimately safer to be able to dismount in both directions? Perhaps to be able to keep the bike between the rider and a dog if unable to outrun the animal?

mcours2006

I always dismount on the left, whether it's getting off the bike completely or just unclipping the pedals. Just what I'm used to. The only time I unclipped on the right I fell, so never again.

I don't see any advantages or disadvantages to either, unless you dismount at every light and you want to be on the right side to be away from traffic, but even then I can't see much of a safety advantage.

52telecaster

always left for me. no reason really.

Lazyass

Left. Same as a motorcycle. Most people probably got the left side habit as a kid with a bike that had a kickstand that always leans the bike to the left.

pass the peas

I unclip my left foot when coming to a stop to keep my dominant foot on the pedal when leaving a stop, so I typically dismount left foot down as well. Do what's comfortable and safe for you.

tyrion

Mount/dismount on the left in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere mount/dismount on the right.

(On the equator, if facing east, mount on the left, dismount on the right. Vice-versa if facing west.)

mcours2006

Makes sense. They do drive on the wrong side of the road.

Bandera

Classic style Cyclo Cross racing dis-mounts and re-mounts are to/from the NDS as are the start drills for mass start race line up.
Left for me.

-Bandera

tyrion

Seriously, mounting from the left side is pretty universal. (Because your sword is carried on your left side, so it would be dangerous to swing your left leg over because it might hit your sword.)

IslandTimePE

Looks like I am in the distinct minority on this one...

I guess it all goes back to when I first leaned to ride a bike. I taught myself without training wheels and there was a little hill on the right side of the driveway. I always started from that little hill because I could reach the ground with my right foot as I tried to get going. Now that has stuck for 40+ years.

Hadn't considered the cyclocross angle.

Marcus_Ti

Odd. I figured given that drivetrain-on-right is universal on bicycles...and Mount/dismount on left means you never get Cat5Tattoo, Our Southern Hemisphere folks would do the same.

DGoodrow

Ditto for me for the very same reasons. Never tried a dominant left foot but don't think it would go well.

Doctor Morbius

Exit stage left. Maybe because I'm right handed? I don't know. It's just the way I've always done it.

DrIsotope

I unclip my right foot to stop. Always. Bonus of this, I can put that foot on the curb and stay seated while at stops.
I always get off of the bike to the right. ALWAYS.
I can get on either way. Doesn't matter.

I assume most, if not all of this is due to being left-footed.

DGoodrow

The larger question is, when unclipping, heal in...or out? I'm a heal in (toward the crank) kind of guy.

Hoopdriver

Also left. Done so since the J.C. Higgins that I got in 1956. Don't know why, though.

On my trike, I can go both ways throwing either leg over the cruciform, but that isn't really mounting, is it?

Kedosto

Always left side mount/dismount. Reflective of my motorcycle background. Unclip either foot, depending on situation. Had a horse that only liked to be mounted from the left. I learned the hard way on that one.

-Kedosto

Kedosto

Heel out, always. Snapping my heel out creates momentum to carry my leg out and away from the bike, allowing me to plant my foot confidently.

-Kedosto

sdmc530

IslandTimePE

Heel out for me....but for no particular/good reason

IslandTimePE

Now that you mention it, I rode a motorcycle for a few years in my younger days. Dismounted to the left due to the kick stand being there. But that never transferred to the bicycle.

DGoodrow

You unclip both shoes???

bogydave

Just like a horse,
Mount & dismount on the left

Gresp15C

Left for me. It dates back to my childhood, when every bike had a kickstand.

R200

Mounting bicycles from the left side goes all the way back to mounting horses. Horses tend to be sensitive (and often spooked) by mounting from the non-standard side, so it makes sense to consistently mount from the left side so that the more commonly dominant right hand can better help pull the rider onto the saddle. Yesterday I was brushing a large 16.5 hand tall, 1,700 lb Percheron who didn't like to even be approached from the right let alone mounted from the right. Bicycles naturally developed with the same convention so the drive-trains tend to be on the right side so as to avoid soiling one's trousers on the chain and the kickstand tends to be on the left so they can be more easily folded while standing on that side of the bicycle.