Which door do you open?

While I was writing my first random thoughts blog in Starbucks back in Dec 30, 2008, I noticed one thing which is quite interesting.

There are two doors to enter that Starbucks, kind of the french door type of thing. The right one open to the right and the left one to the left. I noticed that most people entered Starbucks by pulling open their right hand side door, probably about 9 out of 10. And most people exited Starbucks by pushing open the same door, by pushing open the door on their left. So, the same door is being opened and closed way more than the other one.

I wonder why is that.

First, I thought because most people use their right hand to open a door. So, when they enter, they will use their right hand to pull open the right door. However, that doesn't explain why they don't push open the door on their right hand side. Instead most people push open the door on their left hand side, using their left hand. Then, I noticed when people exit, they usually carry a cup of coffee using their right hand. So, they will use their left hand to push open the door of the left hand side. Then, I saw a guy holding a cup of coffee on his left hand, but still pushing open the door on his left hand. Also, I noticed most empty-handed people pushed open the left door as well. So, it seems like regardless of empty-handed or holding something on their left or right (or both) hand, most people still usually push open their left door.

This seems to be independent of whether the people are coming from the right or left. To enter that Starbucks, you have to kind of walk straight a bit, regardless of whether you are coming from the right or left of Starbucks.

So, it seems like most people just like pulling right and pushing left (I am still talking about opening doors, not politics).

I wonder it is only happening in that particular Starbucks or it is just usual (even for Tim Hortons).

For those who wonder, the other door wasn't locked. A very small number of people did open the other door.

Implication? I mentioned in that blog that it was snowing and outside was cold. So, I picked a seat by the side of the less frequently opened door.