Basically, it comes down to drivers being selfish assholes. It's not like they're all doing something important with those roads: many of them are driving arou

Basically, it comes down to drivers being selfish assholes. It's not like they're all doing something important with those roads: many of them are driving around for leisure, to see their friends, to go out to eat, to just "take a drive", etc. They have no more right to the road than the cyclists. The problem is that the drivers don't want to make their politicians build proper cycle-ways for bicyclists to safely travel in. If there were proper bike routes, then you wouldn't see cyclists on the roads slowing people down. It's largely the same with your garbage chute example. If the complex (or the municipality) can't be bothered to build any decent places for kids to play, like playgrounds, then don't be surprised when they repurpose other things for that. Decent towns and cities always have playgrounds for kids to entertain themselves.