Originally Posted by
Jynx
I believe he means the fact in the US we drive on the right side of the road and need to signal with our left arms. In places where they drive on the left they have the brakes switched (sometimes). It probably is related to hand signals.
if we signal with our left hands, then the brake lever for the front brake would be on the right side so you can brake and signal at the same time.
I think it's probably more of a decision of US bicycle manufacturers to prevent endo'ing over the front...and it just stuck over the decades even though it doesnt make much sense.