You're kidding, right? My rack has worn slightly from carrying it on one side, but tires? I don't think so.

It's a matter of chance - depends on which one I grab.

I use whichever pannier has the lock in it. Unless I don't want the lock in which case I use the other.

Curbside so the PBSF doesn't get moved out of position again.

Since I rarely remove the pannier; Left side so I have access to lube and clean the chain.

Traffic side,reflector on the pannier,plus"he might scratch my car with that nasty bag" so maybe i`ll get a bit more room.

I'll ease your embarassment. I'm similar but mount dismount on the right side. I am physically capable of mounting from the other side, but it just feels strange. I'm also kinda clumsy at it.

As for the pannier question, I agree with those who say traffic side... if I were to use only one pannier. That being said, I almost always carry both panniers even if theoretically one would do the trick. Keeps things symmetrical.

+1

no panniers but wald folders. If I only need one, which is usually the case, it is traffic side. I agree that having the big black cage on my left gives me an extra foot of passing room from cars in most cases. I hadn't thought of it but I always get off on the left also, will try the right side tonight and see if I even can.

Same here.

traffic side. it doesn't stick out any farther than my elbow but it looks bigger.

of course i'm in NZ where we drive on the left, so maybe you'd wanna switch that up

my ortleib bags are ambidextrous, so i can even out the wear by switching bags but always being partial towards the traffic side when i only have one bag.

Traffic side. Clothes go in the left side, shoes in the right side. When I commute with just one, it's because the shoes are at work, and I'm just carrying clothes, so they go on the left side.

Easy, no?

Left side because I lean the bike against the wall on the right side in my office and at home.

Depends on which pannier I grab - since my nashbar ATB's have reflective striping on the rear of the bag.

If I need one,I need two.I like balance in my life......One pannier reminds my girls with one ponytail coming out of the side of their head,something doesn't look right.

Depends on which bike I'm riding, I have 2 sets of panniers for 2 bikes. A set of small bags that I've had since my teen years. They were my primary's till I got a newer set with more versatility. So now the small ones are used on my road bike mostly, smaller profile and keeps me from over weighting the bike.

Have larger bags for my Utitlity/mtb commuter. So for which side I choose. The road bike takes the traffic side only cause the right bag has a small hole in it. My Utility commuter bag is always mounted on the right side. Only because the bags are large volume and hang really low. I have a axle mounted trailer hitch on the left side that the pannier would interfer with.

+1. I mount it on the dismount side. Which just happens to be the traffic side.

Does that mean when you're mining for those namesake boogers you use two fingers in parallel?

I do concur that it is the rare gal who can pull off the side slung pony tail without looking like a bimbo. And it is even rarer when she can look good in one of those single shoulder garments. However, guys parted in the middle have a long row to hoe to not look like goons.

There's a lot of asymmetry to this symmetry thing.

Curbside, because when I get to work, the only spot left in the rack is on the right end and my rear wheel doesn't fit into the rack. (The rack is solely to hold the bikes up. The rack itself is locked behind doors that only our law firm has access to and has security cameras. I don't bother locking the bike)

Shouldn't use just one pannier because that looks unbalanced and looks are important.

I prefer traffic side so the bike seems bigger in the lane but if the pannier is heavy, I find it easier to get on and off the bike if the pannier is on the curbside.

I tend to mount mine (on those rare occasions that I actually use it) on the curb side for a couple of reasons:

1. I mount my bike from the left side, and it's easier to lean the bike into me while mounting the basket (Nashbar Townie). Downside is the lower hook is a PITA sometimes to mount because of the drive train.

2. If my bag should fall off, in theory my stuff has a reduced chance of being run over.

Curb side. Why, because the only single pannier I have is a right-side one. I've never figured out what happened to its mate.

Also, if the bike fell over, the pannier would probably prevent the RD from hitting the ground.

As for visibility, if the motorists don't fear my Dinotte 300R, they're not going to care which side my pannier is on.