[*BCM*] "Who's worse? Boston drivers or Boston pedestrians?

[Maitland Lederer]

As a cyclist, I have far more problems with pedestrians than drivers. 
Yeah, of course, I've had drivers cut me off or fail to see me or park 
in the bike lane, but far more often, I've had to veer out of my way or 
stop suddenly because a pedestrian has jumped into the street (not at a 
crosswalk) suddenly and without looking.

And frequently, pedestrians would be far more avoidable if they simply 
moved in a predictable way, but, more often than not, they walk out into 
the street, freeze like a deer in headlights and then do the "I don't 
know which way I should go" dance all over the street.

I completely disagree that we treat humans as "the lowest form of road 
user."  Pedestrians can go lots of places that cars, and even bikes, 
cannot go, so I'm not really sure how you can claim they don't have as 
many rights as cars.  Yes, you cannot walk on the interstate.  Yes, you 
cannot just jump out in front of a car anywhere and expect the driver to 
pay your medical bills if they hit you.  But I hardly think these are 
injustices.  We don't allow cars (and, in many places, bicycles) on the 
sidewalk, and we don't allow pedestrians in many parts of the street 
because it allows us to plan traffic.  You can maybe argue that we need 
more sidewalks around, but I don't really see how not being permitted to 
walk in a vehicle lane with impunity is a problem.