I disagree. Take for instance a city like Amsterdam (or any other Dutch city for that matter). People ride bikes there. Lots of bikes. Fast bikes. When you go there for the first time, you better make sure you walk on the right side of the side walk, or else you're actually in danger of getting run over - you're just not used to them, and the bike lanes often are on the side walks.

But you do get used to that - you simply start looking out more carefully.

I see no reason why it should be different with cars, especially since you would probably hear even a silent car more easily than a bike.