I've gotten the impression it's really an issue in areas where nobody walks anywhere. There seem to be more of those than there were even a generation ago, prob

I've gotten the impression it's really an issue in areas where nobody walks anywhere. There seem to be more of those than there were even a generation ago, probably as small town and suburban "main streets" have declined, people have longer commutes so less time to spend walking around town, etc. People then have a sense of walking as weird and potentially dangerous. If they see a kid walking, they think the kid must be neglected, or else why wouldn't they have gotten a ride from a parent? If they see a grown woman walking, they think she's taking an unnecessary risk. If they see a grown man walking, they worry he's up to no good, and might even post on NextDoor or call the police to report "suspicious activity." Also, I think as small towns and suburbs have moved more commerce and also some housing to the outskirts of town, more streets have become arterial roads, which means faster cars and more danger to pedestrians.