system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
CMV: Bicycles should be treated as pedestrians rather than cars

In the US, pedal power bikes are usually treated as motor vehicles by the law. It varies from area to area but they are often required to use roads rather than sidewalks. This seems hilariously unsafe.

**Visibility:** Bikes can see pedestrians much better than cars can see bikes. Cars have to keep track of more variables and tend to pay closer attention to other cars. 

**Speed:** Bikes cannot possibly keep up with cars, but they can slow down for pedestrians.

**Chaos:** Bikes can't keep a steady speed, rarely use turn signals, and are generally unpredictable. That throws a wrench in the flow of traffic and probably leads to more accidents.

Edit: I agree that bike lanes are the best solution. Sadly most cities don't have the budget, so bikes need to be on roads or on sidewalks. My view is that the second option is safer.
gpt
Bikes are probably just as dangerous to pedestrians as cars are to bikes. Bikes can go up to 20 mph comfortably. Visibility is actually not that great because pedestrians do not walk in lanes or follow any kind of pattern... they might step onto the sidewalk without looking for example. 

The bike/car speed is actually closer on many streets, pretty much any street with a standard 35 mph or lower speed limit is perfectly reasonable for both cars and bikes. Of course, this is not the case with highways or thoroughfares but that can be managed by choosing a more appropriate route. 

From a bike rider's perspective, the sidewalk is actually less desirable. Sidewalks are frequently much less smooth, poorly maintained, and narrow. They might even have steps or curbs that impede movement. You can't go nearly as fast on a sidewalk and it's far more dangerous... not to mention that there are frequently slow pedestrians in the way. The standard sidewalk is just too narrow for a bike to pass a pedestrian... forcing one or the other to step off the path.