[lp0_on_fire]

Obviously one has to cross the road as a pedestrian sometimes but if I'm being honest in many places around where I live in the US I go out of my way to not. Stroads plus the lack of sidewalks, guarded crosswalks and blind corners make it so that it's dumb to cross in many places.

Even guarded crosswalks are hit or miss (no pun intended). The lights are all timed for vehicles and most drivers around here think stop lights are more of a suggestion than a rule. I've lost count the number of times I've almost been hit crossing the street by a person trying to turn left before the light changes.

Having grown up in a much smaller town where we walked/rode our bikes everywhere it's jarring.

[wizofaus]

Everything you describe is exactly why I would never care to live in a city designed for cars over people, of whom some will use cars from time to time.