Pedestrians in Indian cities face significant safety hazards, including open manholes, debris, and unlit roads, forcing them onto streets with moving vehicles. This lack of walkable footpaths, despite increased urban spending on transport infrastructure like metros and flyovers, highlights a prioritization of vehicles over people. The article argues this design choice, which makes walking a daily risk, contributes to a doubling of pedestrian fatalities in six years and questions why cities are designed for cars rather than citizens.