There are people on bikes that ride like an asshole. There are people on cars that drive like an asshole. Both cause (different levels of) risk for pedestrians. There's only so much we can do about assholes, social ostracism works only so far and social change is much harder to accomplish than modifying our built environment to reduce or eliminate conflict points.
As an aside, I've noticed people get startled when I'm on my bike stopped but balancing on my bike while I wait for then to cross. I think some people intuitively model bikes on the same category as cars, so being anywhere close causes them to react as if a car hard crept close.
In my experience as a pedestrian, bikes are worse than cars. Less predictable, less observant of laws, and more willing to take risks that depend on others jumping out of their way.
On the plus side, they don’t weigh 3000lbs.
It signals yet another asshole. No need for some complicated justifications! 90% of infrastructure is already dedicated to bikes, it is called roads!
> think some people intuitively model bikes on the same category as cars
They literally are in the same category! It is called vehicles, and vehicles are not allowed on sidewalks!
> modifying our built environment to reduce or eliminate conflict points.
How about repression and fines? Works on cars!
> startled when I'm on my bike stopped but balancing on my bike
Perhaps people just do not want to be around dangerous situations? If you fall and break something, they will have to help you.
And cyclists sometimes get angry and aggressive, when falling near pedestrians.