Why does being on a bike in London cause so much conflict? (this time, a jaywalker)

I try and say. "Please look before you cross the road" in a annoyed but non yelling voice.

I don't always do this, but when I do the stress passes quicker, and is any escalation occurs observers are always on the calmer persons side.

Yeah, I agree. Whilst I think what Tynan is saying about it being natural to react angrily is right, I think with pedestrians we have to calm down very quick otherwise you get one of London's angry nutters joining in, i.e. that taxi driver, and then the shit will really start to pile up.

OK tonight i spoke to a couple of people in my family who live in London about this (they are non-cyclists). They had both been nearly hit by "courier types". they thought that in this type of situation, it is always the fault of the cyclist. According to them, the pedestrian can walk in the street as they please, and if they get hit, it's not their fault. The reason being that cyclists shouldn't go so fast that they can't stop if a pedestrian jumps in the road with no warning. I am not making this up, and I am not exaggerating. How pig-headed is that? I got the impression that they both thought that because they were at risk of serious injury, the cause of that risk (THEM) had no bearing whatsoever.

Very. People don't seem to understand that pedestrians do not have right of way on the road.

Seems to me like London needs to do a bit of revision/learning...