Posted by John Lambert on February 24, 2004 at 16:20:55 from 24.84.34.215 user John.
In Reply to: Re: A sense of PLACE-walking right/left posted by Eric Abraham on February 24, 2004 at 14:36:39:
I think someone - probably Ed - recently wondered why people drive on the left side of the road in the U.K. and elsewhere. When I was in school, I was told the custom dated back to medieval times when it was safer to pass a mounted man right side to right side. That way you could draw your sword if he looked menacing. The custom continued until it was too ingrained to change. Why we drive on the right side of the road in North America (and elsewhere) I have no idea, unless it was direct reaction to the British custom.