Originally Posted by Gareth

Let's look at this from another angle... at the moment, you, as a pedestrian, have the choice of walking either along the pavement or you can walk on the side of the road. You're fully aware that walking on the pavement is the safest option, but it would inconvenience you more than walking in the road from time to time. Should you have the choice as to where you choose to walk - if you want to, should you be allowed to walk on the road instead of always on the pavement?

If the government gets its way, they're saying that because of the risk of walking in the road and potentially getting run over, you're no longer allowed to not walk on the pavement, because they've decided it should be that way. Even if you want to, you will not do it.