Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike

Yielding to pedestrians who are actively crossing the street is one thing, expecting moving traffic to come to a stop for people who are standing on the sidewalk or near the street in case they might be thinking of crossing the street is another.

Car drivers who unexpectedly and sudden stop in a traffic lane in the front of flowing traffic can expect to be rear ended, and might be shocked, shocked to learn that they might share financial/legal responsibility for the consequences of their gratuitous "courtesy" stop. Even if they can pass some or all of the blame and costs for a collision that resulted from their own misguided action on the other vehicle operator, they will not be able to pass on the physical pain suffered and/or inconvenience of their damaged vehicle.