And the above is just accidents. Crime is a problem. For example, no way am I letting my elderly mom walk to visit her friend downtown, I drove her instead.
A) Sidewalks are just too damn cramped. Pedestrians feel like 2nd class citizens to cars
B) Public transit, to get longer distances, is unreliable and often chaotic
C) It's faster
D) Besides some parks, there aren't very many places I want to hang out outside at en route to most destinations. There aren't enough nice, safe public spaces
E) I keep my head on a swivel and I still have to dodge clueless drivers who run stop signs or don't use turn signals _far_ too often for how little I walk now. Although I will say that this seems to have gotten worse since COVID for whatever reason.
I don't really see a solution to the problem.. there's opposition to pretty much every baby step towards progress. They tried "slow streets" (with minimal investment into said infrastructure) and... local residents seemed to hate them, drivers didn't care, and police didn't enforce anything.
If you can't beat 'em..
They could take even just a couple streets, convert them to be narrower, calm traffic, and create safer spaces for pedestrians and bikers all in one go.
Hard to fault people who try to getting a larger, safer vehicle - which not only means joining them, but going further, going all the way to buying a SUV. Sit higher for better visibility, more cage around you. Can't change the city planning, can't prevent people from looking at their phones, but you can decided what vehicle you drive.