So, which foot to put down when stopping at a junction? Do you actually know the correct answer? Is it the left or is it the right......? If you can't answer correctly at this point, you really are not an Advanced rider and should just give up and go and play golf.
Well, maybe not.
Some riders whilst in the training stages of Advanced riding principles want black and white rules of how to do things - but Advanced riding is actually a thousand shades of grey. We can approach the same hazard 10 times in a day and find that we need to amend our thinking and alter our approach 10 times to suit the circumstances, traffic, weather and so on. Don't be minded to be fixed in your mindset. Advanced riding is about a mental attitude, to which you can select and use a variety of skills and methods to achieve your goal. It is a toolbox where you can pick up the required tool at the appropriate moment.
So, which foot to put down when stopping at a junction?
It depends!!
Around the country, IAM groups have been influenced by local Police riding standards and policies, based on Roadcraft, but with some local interpretation. In Kent, we generally use the right foot when stopping, unless the camber suggests we put the left foot down. You may have heard of the 'Hendon shuffle' where Metropolitan police riders in the capital would put the left foot down first, then put the right foot down to use the left to select neutral.
What do I look for on test ? A rider who is in control and puts a foot down according the circumstances and riding style. What is a problem on test, is where a rider comes up to a junction and throws both legs out hoping that one of them will touch the ground whilst the other is there as safety backup..... I am looking for a controlled stop, with some thought to camber and machine control. This is about assessing a situation and being a thinking rider - not looking for a rule where I will always do x..y..z.