RHD vs LHD

Post by **jaekl** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 1:17 pm

Here's something that flashes in my crazy mind and maybe someone can resolve it. Motorcycles in LHD country have the stand on the left side and sidecars when used are on the other side which is towards the curb. (Is that near side or off side?) If the convention is to keep the sidecar away from traffic, then I would assume that is RHD countries the sidecar is on the left and therefore the stand would be on the right. Now I'll switch gears. Over here horses are trained to accept riders on the left side and assuming the typical motorcycle mount is from the left side due to the stand being on that side and that this convention was a carryover from horse riding. With that being said are horses mounted on the right in RHD countries?
How's that for a tangled puzzle? It's more that what came first. It's more of a retro logic. Of course in the center is the assumption that sidecars are on the left in RHD countries. If that is false then left mounting horses is constant the world round. Maybe I should get out more often.

Post by **Kevin** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 4:23 pm

then I would assume that is RHD countries the sidecar is on the left and therefore the stand would be on the right.

Thats correct over hear.

With that being said are horses mounted on the right in RHD countries?

No on the left or to quote Equine World
Mounting a horse or pony is done from the "near" side ie the horse's left side. (The horse's right side is known as the "off" side.) Facing the horse, the reins are held in the left hand and the left hand placed on the pommel of the saddle

Post by **dalebrignall** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 4:32 pm

the only time you hold the reins in the left hand when you get on and when you are driving a horse.both reins go in the left hand and the whip in the right.

Post by dp » Thu Feb 19, 2009 4:48 pm

Based on research from Spaghetti westerns ;) horses are parked facing the kerb where the reins are thrown over a handy bar of wood. Motorbikes on the other hand are parked with their rear facing the kerb. Hope that makes things clearer:)

Sidecars have to be to the left of the bike over here in the UK - not that you see many nowadays. I guess in mainland Europe they have to be on the right. So if you get a 2 wheel drive Dnepr or Ural Russian bike and sidecar outfit you can't enjoy the benefit of a driven sidecar wheel.

Post by **jaekl** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 5:52 pm

Thanks, now I learned that nears side/off side goes back to horse riding but is it always left/right or driver/ passenger or passenger/driver. I also learned that us humans can get ourselfs all tangled up in customs but horses have convinced us to be the same everywhere. It must free up their minds for all sorts of higher order thinking.

Post by **mike.perry** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 10:40 pm

Slightly off the topic but here goes.
Steps in a circular castle tower always climb in a clockwise direction.
This is so that defenders coming down the stairs to meet the invaders have room to swing their swords which are held in their right hands, whereas the invaders do not have room to swing their swords.
I'm left handed so that theory doesn't work.

Post by **toginthemog** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 10:42 pm

there,s always one

Post by **ASL642** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 10:44 pm

I'll remember that next time I meet invaders coming upstairs in my castle!