Eric F 

For voluntary stops, left. It's a habit built from when I was a ute, riding with clips and straps. It probably has mostly to do with being right-side dominant.

For forced stops (MTB, most often), I'll put down whichever foot needs to get down for the situation.

rsbob 

Never seen a quote from a Deputy Director of the Seattle Dept of Transportation before. You must work for the city or with the city.

surak

Always left, never figured out why it felt so strange to unclip right first until I read some of the responses here that rang true for me too.

I find it more difficult to unclip my right foot. When I first started with clipless, I couldn't do the outward twist with any force. I can now, but it's still nowhere near as easy as with my left foot.

I also always mount a bike from the left side and keep my right foot clipped in until dismounting.

The shoulders where I ride are often full of grit, so that plus the frequent presence of storm drains means there's hardly a reason to want to get closer to a curb when stopped at any intersection.

Black wallnut 

I tend to somewhat trackstand for short lights and 4 way stops. If I have to put a foot down it is my left. However with moving dismounts like for CX I unclip right and step off left.

noimagination

Nearly always right. I ride left foot forward while snowboarding, and my left foot is in front when coasting with level pedals. I steer with my left hand and get bottles/snacks/bandanna/etc. with my right.

It just feels more natural to do macro things with my left foot/hand (like pushing down to start riding, steering, and the like) and micro things (like unclipping/clipping back in, fumbling in jersey pocket, etc.) with my right.

Roger Ramjet

When I converted to clipless many moons ago, I just learned that when I get on the bike, to clip in on the right while doing that (right crankarm high), start pedaling with the right foot to get going, and then clip in the left. I'm right dominant, and I presume that is why. It's always worked for me, and I've never rethought it.

I just realized I didn't answer the question!!!! Because of how I clip in, I always reverse the order when I stop......unclip the left foot, stop, and use my left foot for support until I take off again.

SoSmellyAir

I have been riding clipless for only less than a year. On the road, I unclip my right foot first so I can "land" (is this the correct terminology?) on my more dexterous leg. I lift my bum off the saddle when I am stopped. I keep my left foot clipped in and at bottom dead center until I need to launch again. I am not racing so launching on my left leg -- to the extent (I don't know if) it is weaker -- is not a big deal. On the MUPs I occasionally unclip my left foot first just for practice, but I am definitely more comfortable unclipping my right foot first. I find it quite difficult to unclip either foot at or near top dead center.

Does unclipping on one side increase the risk of falling over (a) on the same side or (b) on the opposite side?

chaadster

I do race sometimes, but even when I’m not, I stay seated, left foot down, right pedal at 2 o’clock, and I get the holeshot *every time,* including against cars. I like it; it’s my own little micro-aggressive display of alpha-male dominance. I can only imagine the moms on cargo bike kid haulers are *very* impressed and the dads bolt upright on Dutchies are seething mad under their hi-vis gilets. YMMV.

bikingshearer 

Unclip the right foot 99.8% of the time. Always have, even back in toe clip days. If I am unclipping my left foot first, something has gone sideways and I'm trying keep from falling over.

When I was a kid on my flat-pedaled three speed, I would mount the bike by putting my left foot on the pedal, push with the right foot, swing the right foot over the seat and start pedaling. You know, kind of like getting on horse. Getting off was the reverse, so the right foot came off the pedal first. That is the only semi-logical reason for my preference, and I can't say with any degree of certainty that is the reason, In any event, unclipping the right foot first is a firmly ingrained auto-response.

SpeedyBlueBiker

Always left foot first. Not sure why. Maybe because when I started riding bikes again back int he 90's I was living in Thailand and mostly riding mountain bikes. In Thailand you drive on the left so taking the left foot off of the pedal is nearer to the curb, although out in the sticks there are no curbs.

Bald Paul

TMI there.

t2p

what side of the bike do you mount from ?

which leg do you swing up in the air and over the bike to mount on ?

if you mount from the left - swing right leg up and then over the bike - your left leg is down

therefore not a coincidence you probably / typically un-clip left foot first and put left foot down

if you are a motorcycle rider even better chance you mount from the left ... place left foot down first ... right foot stays on the brake side peg / foot rest ... right foot / leg can kick the kick starter with left leg down ... etc

(unless you ride a bultaco or maico or another vintage bike with kick start on left and / or shifter on right ... we won’t go there )

daihard 

You guessed it. I volunteer for Seattle Neighborhood Greenways, which works with the city as part of our safety advocacy work.

Dawn said it at one of the town hall meetings where SDOT unveiled a comprehensive bike path plan. It's been nearly 10 years, but it still inspires me.

SoSmellyAir

This describes the way I mount the bike but I unclip and land on my right foot. There must be something off with me.

scott967

Always right. When I was young where I lived, every boy got on a bike by placing left foot on pedal, pushing off with the right, then while coasting throw the right over the wheel. Opposite when getting off. In fact typically would coast quite a ways while standing on the left leg and right already over the wheel. Of course with hand, not coaster brakes.

The habit was quite ingrained when coming to a stop of raising the right pedal and with right hand loosening the strap. Took a while to get out of the habit of reaching down when I went clipless. Your right hand was already near since you probably had to shift the d/t friction shifter anyway. And with flat/platform pedals my problem is I'm so used to raising the left pedal with my foot to push off I can hardly get started if I can't just raise the pedal.

scott s.
.

jgwilliams

Left, as a rule. I imagine it's because a lot of my cycling has been commuting so I tend to favour the side with the pavement (sidewalk).

I've recently had Achilles tendon problems which has revealed (not for the first time) that the muscles around the calf area in my left leg are weaker than those in my right. When thinking about this, I thought it was likely down to always pushing away from a standstill with my right leg, so now I try to change it around a bit. It's such an ingrained habit, though, that I'm mostly not aware of it.

indyfabz

Laugh, but try it with the hand you are not used to. I had to have my left thumb operated on a few years ago, Switching hands was not easy for me.

When I rode across the country BITD, we spent a night in a MN campground where, for some reason, the men's stall walls were way off center, forcing you to "go right."

Ramshackle

I'm left-handed but right side dominant so I uncip from the right side.

ofajen

It’s been seven years since I used foot retention consistently, but pretty much the right foot would clip in last and out first.

I think it’s a habit dating back to using toe clips starting in the 70s. I’m right handed and probably it seemed natural to loosen and hitch the right pedal strap with my right hand.

Just like I generally reach down for my water bottle with my right hand and shifted mainly with my right hand when I had DT shifters.

Otto

daihard 

That's how a lot of kids get on nad off the bikes in Japan! In fact, my wife still does that.

BkSaGo

Right, due to an old leg injury that limits the reach and flexibility of my left ankle/foot.

kinnessa60

with my dominant foot, the one I feel most comfortable putting down when I coming to a stop.

The Chemist

Almost always right. I like to rest my foot on the curb when I stop most of the time, so putting the right foot down allows me to do so.

rumrunn6

whichever I plan to put down. saw someone do this ahead of me one day & thought genius! they unclipped a foot, then let that foot dangle, then when they stopped, that's the foot that went down