Agree with keeping the “walk” in sidewalk,
excepting wheelchairs & similar mobility
solutions for differently-abled folks,
but with everything with wheels that can
travel faster than a walking pace (say, 5 mph)
having the opportunity to use a space that is
normally devoid of pedestrians: the roadway.
The roadway is devoid of pedestrians, sure, but it's full of far more deadly predators.
A bike going 10mph is going to be able to stop faster, maneuver quicker, and do a lot less damage to a pedestrian if they hit them than a car going 55mph would to a biker going 10mph.