I'd say city planners often overlook pedestrians' needs in Shanghai. The main issue is that roads are designed primarily for cars, which makes walking inconvenient or even unsafe sometimes. For example, near my office in Xuhui district, there's a wide intersection where pedestrians get only 15 seconds to cross, forcing people to rush or wait through multiple light cycles.
That said, there are improvements happening-some areas now have wider sidewalks and pedestrian-only zones. But overall, the balance still favors vehicles too much, especially in busy commercial districts where foot traffic is heaviest.