On 3/10/2011 5:53 AM, Dave Stewart wrote:

Apart from the ergonomics I would think it's historical. People wore a
sword on their left so mounted a horse from the left to prevent it
fouling. They rode on the left as it was easier to fight someone on their
right side. When it came to cars people mounted from the left to stay out
of the road. The chauffeur would get in from the other side hence R/H drive
cars.

I've always guessed 'the sword (and horse/critter) thing' originated from
there being more natural righties than lefties. (Try drawing your sword with
your right hand from your right side; I've no doubt someone on the web sells
swords if you don't have one handy...) On the other hand, American Plains
Indians (so I've read) tended to mount their horses from the right side, but
since that history was written mostly by white guys, it may be suspect! I'd
contend there's something sinister about all this, but few would get the weird
humor (ha ha)...


Which raises the question "why is America the opposite?

Henry Ford. He (sensibly, it can be argued) decided to put the driver on the
left side of the Model T because it was 'generally the custom' over here with
horse-drawn carriages to pass on the right of oncoming carriages, and
(presumably) it followed that ladies typically entered carriages from the
right side. What I've read (attributions entirely forgotten) claimed Ford
decided to continue the lady-entrance-tradition (think 'horseless carriage,'
long dresses, dirt 'roads,' and few sidewalks outside of cities' downtowns),
as both likely - insofar as the ladies would be concerned (many of whom would
have to be convinced that spending money on the newfangled contraption for
'everyman' was in the house budget) - to be cleaner (in the event of
sidewalks) and safer (in the event of passing traffic).


I also think it used to be considered unlucky to mount from the right!

Dave


Never read that one! I generally entered my Zuni (think ~6-foot-long
removeable canopy; 'AS W-12-like' landing gear) from the low side. At camps
with ramps, right-side preferred because nothing projects above the side rail;
at my home field, operations favor the left side, which requires getting
legs/butt over ~6" of projecting flap handle.

Bob W.