To feel sad at how much worse life is for pedestrians than it was ten years ago

The biggest issue is those bloody e scooters and delivery riders on e bikes. Lethal.

This is a really common misconception. Your child is much more exposed to toxic fumes in a car than on a bike (as are you): https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/13/cyclists-exposed-to-less-air-pollution-than-drivers-on-congested-routes-study

Part of the problem with car-culture is that people really overestimate how safe they are in their cars - people think they're in a little bubble.

I'm not saying this to be snarky, I genuinely mean it: if you find it stressful or distracting to drive when there's a cyclist and still maintain all the other aspects of safe driving then you are not safe to drive at all. Driving inherently means needing to be aware of, anticipate and account for other road users. If you can't do it it's you not them who needs to be off the road.

I've also lost it about the blocked drains. I really did start sending shitty messages when the issue had been reported endless times and never dealt with over months. Kids were being splashed in buggies and old people who couldn't run past the flooded area were getting wet. This is a town centre too. The rest of us knew to wait for a break in traffic and sprint. It took three fucking years for it to be unblocked, I reported it over 15 times. I was muttering about collecting a bucket of the water, going to the County council head office and lobbing it over the chief execs desk to see how he liked it.

I think it's all contracted out these days so no one in authority actually uses those footpaths.

I chose my location carefully.

My ideal is a small market town with a bypass, plentiful double yellow lines and aggressive parking wardens 😁

On the plus side there are far more pedestrian only streets than there used to be! Also, the introduction of ULEZ and other low emissions zones, combined with a sharp fall in the number of diesel vehicles and rise in EVs, means that the air quality in general is much much better. I really notice when a smelly diesel drives by…only 10 years ago cities were clogged with diesel taxis, busses, cars and vans. But there are too many poorly ridden scooters, especially electric ones, and bikes for my liking

Also just trying to walk along the street on bin day when the pavements are blocked off by both bins and cars. Trying to navigate with a buggy was awful, it must be pointless for people with wheelchairs or other mobility aids.

The city centre being overrun with tables and chairs on pavements with no thought for pedestrians or, again, people with prams, wheelchairs or mobility aids.

Councils not clearing drains, resulting in massive pools of water at crossings which also cover the tactile pacing.

People say "WHAT ABOUT CARS", because cars are, by far, the main source of danger to pedestrians. Are some cyclists a nuisance to pedestrians? Undoubtedly. Are cyclists killing and injuring tens of thousands of pedestrians every year, as cars and other motor vehicles do? No, only a very small fraction of that figure.

And drivers need to remember that pedestrians crossing side roads, openings or driveways have priority and they wait until they've crossed (and if you aren't going to wait, don't dawdle for ages either - turn in and go).

Yes. I notice some drivers like to go and speed through residential areas and ignore that they are going through an area where there will be pedestrians, cyclists, and residents coming from anywhere and everywhere. We have three schools and two day cares within less than a mile of each other all connected on a major road and drivers will speed through when children are on their way to school. There’s also a lot of buses and taxis taking children to school local and further (several for SEN) and drivers will honk if they dare have to wait 10 seconds for a child to be boarded and secured.

Cyclists are not that much better and I really don’t understand the ones that think people have eyes in the back of their head and assume you know they are there and choose not to ring a bell or say something to let people know they are there.

Please explain HOW you are actually meant to do that.

Councils saving money by turning streetlights down and off.

It's the one occasion I've nearly lost my rag with our county council. I pointed out they're trying to promote active travel and we're apparently in a "climate emergency", but they make it less safe for pedestrians and increase car use after dark.
I now wear a retina blinding headtorch from November to March. It feels so bloody unsafe even on the main footpath routes now and puts me off going to later gym classes. I just make sure I'm home by 7pm at the latest. (This issues makes me so angry as I'm a huge walker).

It’s so true. Our local station has decided to build a giant bike storage thing - it’s 3 storeys high and bigger than a house. To do this they’ve had to shut one of the pedestrian entrances which means everyone coming to the station from one direction has to walk about 5 minutes longer. It’s also blocked the disabled parking bays so those are closed too. I’ve been trying to get an answer as to when they will reopen the pedestrian entrance and all I get is comments not understanding why I’m not fawning over the new bike thing. I’ve had to escalate to the station manager and the company that runs it because no one has the answer.

I have mobility problems so the extra distance is a right pain. No one cares about the pedestrians or the disabled parking. The bike lobby is so strong they trump the rights of both!

Drivers don't seem to appreciate that they can stamp on the brakes as hard as they like, while steering if necessary, and stop quickly and safely, from almost any speed. Cyclists trying the same thing will go sailing over the handlebars.

@TonTonMacoute

Perhaps it's helpful to know that bike brakes are nowhere near as effective as car brakes, stopping distances are very different. Not excusing bad cyclists, but they just cannot stop suddenly if someone steps out in front of them.

Presumably, the cyclists know this and should therefore be cycling at an appropriate speed so that they CAN stop for any obstacles etc., and certainly when they are in close proximity to pedestrians, give pedestrians more space, etc.

Definitely cyclist behaviour is far worse. I've been "commuting" by walking a mile along our nearby canal towpath for the past 20 years or so. Ever since covid, it's been a nightmare with ever greater numbers of cyclists barging past walkers with no regard at all, often at high speeds. Never used to be like that - it used to be just slow older cyclists or families with young children. Now it's dominated by entitled lycra louts seemingly trying to beat their personal speed records and not giving a shit about anyone else.

I agree. The video of cyclists flying through the zebra crossing in London whilst pedestrians are trying to cross to floating bus stops is insane. Loads of the them on electric bike and lots look illegal and when one does stop there is an accident because stopping is so unexpected. At least TFL is putting a halt to them for now, of course Glasgow is still going ahead and putting in floating bus stops on roads they are redeveloping.

i have noticed the council investing some money in pedestrian safety here, it all corresponds with safe walking routes to schools. Councils have increased free school bus distance to 3 miles but have to keep offering buses if there is no safe route so suddenly junctions are having money thrown at them.

Perhaps it's helpful to know that bike brakes are nowhere near as effective as car brakes, stopping distances are very different. Not excusing bad cyclists, but they just cannot stop suddenly if someone steps out in front of them.

I think that the whole concept of shared paths has been badly handled, they have mostly been done on the cheap and there simply isn't enough space for everyone to have their fair share. I have witnessed some monumentally stupid pedestrian behaviour, stepping out without looking, can't hear verbal warnings because they've got earphones on.

All road users need to be much more aware of each other.

A good YT on Prague and how it is prioritising cars....and not in a good way:

Japan is absolutely fine - as said a few times above.

It's similar in nature to Finland: https://www.politico.eu/article/helsinki-no-traffic-death-roads-eu-accident-finland-driving-transport/ where there are tons of cyclists, scooter riders and pedestrians sharing space.

From when I have visited the UK in recent years, I have to say: it is the cars!

My word, such a car-mad nation, full of entitled drivers! The infrastructure is poor because drivers are given every benefit. The attitude of drivers is poor as hell - don't dare to hold them up a few seconds! It is the cars. The cars and the total car infrastructure. It needs pulling apart, and not concessions given here and there with pedestrian space taken for cyclists. Need to take the space from the cars. It's as someone said above - walking in London is not that stressful - I agree. I think because there are so many pedestrian roads and pathways, bridges, etc. There are also some wide pavements, even in zone 1 - I guess a hangover from when pedestrians were much more common than traffic.

But there's not you can do when they walk into the SIDE of your car

I used to work in a city centre, right next to the national cycle route and I had to cross it twice plus two roads when walking from the bus stop to the office. Every car stopped at the red light and the majority stopped at the zebra crossing. The bikes never stopped at their red light or at their zebra when I was crossing. Most would ding their bell and not even try to slow down. It was infuriating! Their red/amber/green lights were even shaped like mini bikes clearly showing that it was for them to stop. I swear half of them had no idea it was even there.

My young child was hit by a cyclist on the promenade at Bournemouth. He was quite hurt. To be fair the cyclist was very apologetic and I think he was hurt as well but shared spaces are a nightmare IMO. Could have been a lot worse.

Potentially, yes. They're common in other countries and work well. It's worth noting, of course, that cyclists are especially vulnerable while overtaking buses at bus stops, eg a bus suddenly pulling out may strike the cyclist and drag them under the wheels or force them into the opposite lane, or if the cyclist hesitates or stops to allow the bus to pull away, they may be struck from behind.