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BKStephens t1_iu385gp wrote

Australia too.

Left hand for rear.

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howmanyowls t1_iu3bpz1 wrote

Ah, then it must be to do with the side of the road we drive/cycle on.

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BKStephens t1_iu41rig wrote

Quite probably.

Back brake hand always on the bars leaves roadside hand free for signalling.

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wedontlikespaces t1_iu4z3b8 wrote

That makes sense. Same reason that in the UK we drive on the left.

Back in the days when people rode horses a lot that used to leave your sword arm (right-handed for the vast majority of the population) free. Your vulnerable left side was protected by the verge.

In Europe and the US they just got stabbed a lot

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platitood t1_iu5qr85 wrote

Buckler on the left.

There’s a reason that many castle entrances are set up to force you to lead with your sword arm. Because that’s less safe than being able to lead with your shield arm and keep your sword arm free for stepping back at somebody.

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tullystenders t1_iu6sb4e wrote

Im calling you out, you most likely got that from wikipedia, but you explained it as if you didnt.

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dxin t1_iu43xa3 wrote

Very strangely China also has it on the left.

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JoshwaarBee t1_iu49kag wrote

It would make sense for Hong Kong, being a colony, but idk about China

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emu_swimmer t1_iu4lrlk wrote

What side is throttle on for motorcycling? It makes sense here because front brake is on throttle side (right) and clutch left. Which means we wouldn’t have to switch habits going from bicycle to motorcycle.

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-DethLok- t1_iu4muen wrote

I was wondering when someone would mention this.

Every motorbike I've owned or ridden has throttle and front brake on the right.

The clutch (or rear brake if automatic clutch) is on the left.

I have a tendency, since my driveway slopes down to the road, to test my bike brakes before getting onto the bike to ensure that each works and that I've drilled it into muscle memory which lever is which - odd - as I've never ridden a bike with 'reversed' brakes but I do it anyway, it can't hurt.

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Merengues_1945 t1_iu4tm5q wrote

I used to live in the top of a steep af slope, so I always brake test before, several of my neighbours have been in accidents cos of brake issues during rainy or cold days.

On my bicycle I always drove with rear always pulled all the way and even then it was kinda like "Jezus, don't let me die, pls!"

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apawst8 t1_iu5lxrd wrote

I distinctly remember a Happy Days episode where Fonzie was on the jury and voted to acquit the defendant because the defendant was riding a motorcycle with the throttle on the "wrong" side. (The defendant was accused of doing something with his left hand, which he couldn't have done because the throttle of this particular motorcycle was on the left).

That's literally the only Happy Days plot I remember, and I don't know why.

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shewy92 t1_iu5cbjj wrote

I'd imagine gas and brakes are the same. They don't change, just like car gas and brakes don't.

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