[jyl]

Have to ride defensively and anticipate dangers. Then you can avoid most problems on the street. E.g. the right hook - don't enter an intersection with a car on your left, don't overtake a car on the right if you're coming up on an intersection, driveway, open parking place. Left hook - don't go bombing through intersections too fast to stop/avoid a turning car. Accordion - don't stop and wait right behind a stopped car, stop by the lines between the lanes. The thing that every new rider worries about - that you're riding along and a car suddenly plows you over from behind - is really rare. Even then, the answer is to use a helmet mirror and get in the habit of scanning it, just like you scan your mirrors when driving.

Pedestrians are completely unpredictable, they stop and turn and reverse with no warning and on a whim, kids and dogs are the worst, if you ride around pedestrians you have to crawl (10 mph) and are always braking and swerving. Cars are fairly predictable, and you can ride as fast as you like (for the most part).