[barkbro]

In many places (in Europe at least, I don't know much about the rest of the world), cars are prioritised on roads with larger amounts of traffic (pedestrians have to "ask premission to cross" or wait) and pedestrians are prioritised on roads with less traffic (they can just cross, and the cars have to stop). This is a reasonable compromise in my opinion.

There are some places where you as a pedestrian feel like a second-class citizen though. Lack of pedestrian crossings, heavy traffic in city centers, police who think jaywalking when there is no traffic is a problem etc.

[goblin89]

Seems about the same in South Korea and Taiwan, where on narrow alleys in residential areas cars are expected to move really slowly and peacefully co-exist with pedestrian traffic. What European countries do you have in mind?