While much more rare than with cars, biciclysts still sometimes fatally hit pedestrians.
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/reported-road-casua...
> Chart 4 shows that, again, in terms of absolute numbers, cars are the vehicle type most often involved in fatal collisions when others are killed, followed by HGVs and Light Goods Vehicles (LGVs). Very few other road users are killed in collisions with pedal cyclists or pedestrians (5 and 6 respectively in 2021).
As a cyclist I avoid pavements, the are very seldom the best route anyways. I do understand the fear that make them seem like the best options.