And we homeowners love it. That's a large part of what makes neighborhoods "kid friendly", along with lack of through traffic, good neighborhood schools, and convenient local services.
I am from Europe, and my idea of a kid-friendly neighborhood has proper sidewalks. Here is an example: https://goo.gl/maps/Ng3BUjBcPq12
The American model seems to have such narrow and badly paved sidewalks that no one uses them, so then you need wider streets to cater for the combined use by pedestrians, cyclists and cars.
I grew up in suburban Dallas, and there were sidewalks everywhere. The only neighborhoods I saw without sidewalks were older neighborhoods that always creeped me out when I was little... I always got the impression that they were dilapidated.
And for completeness, a sidewalk-less street in a nearby neighborhood: https://goo.gl/maps/TnQ8bogKttL2 -- that whole area just looks old, and the neighborhood gave me the creeps when I was a kid
There is a disconnect in ownership between roads and sidewalks that makes it all very political: "Sidewalks in front of homes can be a source of puzzlement over just who or what owns them. Generally, each state sets its own laws about ownership of property, including sidewalks in front of homes and buildings. Certain states say that sidewalks are owned by the cities, towns or other municipalities having jurisdiction. In California, for example, sidewalks in front of homes and businesses are owned by their municipalities, but their upkeep is to be handled by those homes and businesses."
