I am a pedestrian and non-driver with no access to a car. I’m 55 and I live alone. I work mostly from home currently and walk out of necessity and for exercise /enjoyment. I walk everywhere locally and otherwise walk to and from bus stops at varied distances from home. I do not see many other pedestrians in several of the residential side streets near where I live as most people just use their cars to get around. There are hedges that are not cut back to residential boundaries and therefore obstruct the pavements and footpaths. Also, cars and vans park on pavements. I’m lucky to live somewhere with grass verges but many are ploughed up by parked vehicles especially those belonging to builders etc. Building materials are also often left lying around on pavements during work and beyond. As well as the practical considerations, it is the selfishness and lack of consideration for others and the provision of pedestrian space that affects me psychologically. I’m not disabled myself nor do I use any walking aids etc but see many spaces which would be impossible for some other pedestrians to use. There seems to be no monitoring or enforcement. I feel like a second-class citizen as a pedestrian at times.
I think things could be improved if local and national authorities take action, including monitoring and enforcement and not just taking care of city centres but residential areas too. We need coordinated pressure/action on behalf of all pedestrians.