system
A chat on subreddit /r/NoStupidQuestions
human
Miles of sidewalks in rural areas would need maintenance. Snow would need to be cleared at considerable cost. If the city/county doesn't clear the sidewalk then it's basically the same as not having one. And if someone hurts themselves on the un-cleared walk it's a lawsuit at worst, medical costs at best.

Also, for residential areas, homeowners don't want the added responsibility to clear the sidewalk either. There is usually a fine for failing to do so even though almost no one uses the sidewalks because it's too cold to walk 4 miles to a store.

I'm big cities like NYC or Chicago there are sidewalks everywhere and they are used in the winter. The city is much more dense than other major cities in more rural areas and the sidewalks are used.  

America is big.  Walking wasn't an option before cars either.  We used horses.
gpt
&gt;Miles of sidewalks in rural areas would need maintenance. Snow would need to be cleared at considerable cost. If the city/county doesn't clear the sidewalk then it's basically the same as not having one.    

"Why would we build sidewalks here in Houston? What if it snows?!!! Then we'd have to clear the sidewalks! Clearly we're not going to do that so we might as well not have any sidewalks whatsoever and tell pedestrians to risk their fucking life when walking because it might snow once a decade".