It's not illegal to pull over on the left side. If there is enough room and it's safer than crossing 2-4 lanes of traffic, then you are supposed to pull off to that side. I see people pulled off to the left all the time. I also see cops pull people over onto the left as well. In one way it's safer because you have your car there as a barrier between you and traffic where as on the right you get out of the car almost into traffic. Of course that part doesn't mean squat for bikes, but it's just an example. I've had to pull over on the left before.
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