Would you rather your wife walk in a park during the day or night?
The OP is drawing some pretty common sense conclusions, they are essential turning busy streets into quiet alleyways.
The OP is drawing some pretty common sense conclusions, they are essential turning busy streets into quiet alleyways.
In fact, there will be more people on the streets. The lack of cars makes it possible to use the spare space for playgrounds, skate parks, outdoor restaurant seating, additional shops, et cetera. And the streets don't suddenly narrow: they are still 70 feet wide, they don't magically turn into tiny alleyways the second you remove car traffic.
I can tell you from experience that many well-designed parks are even very busy after nightfall. No reason to feel afraid when there are literally a hundred people within eyesight.
Would you rather walk on a highway shoulder or a residential street?
Ears on the street is what matters, not cars on the road.