A letter of complaint about pavement activity on crowded sections along Sliema Strand (‘Slalom in Sliema’, July 29) drew many website comments which make very disappointing reading.

There were demands that the pavement should be cleared, that people “need protection” (whatever that means), that there is no space to walk, that regulations need to be enforced (with quotes from “Reg 35”) and so on.

This is all so sad and dreary coming from people who live in a country where few walk and where the majority use a car even for short distances so that our typical urban roads tend to be empty and devoid of human activity.

Maybe all those who made comments should try to consider the issue from a less intolerant and stuffy point of view: what is wrong with a pavement that is vibrant with activity?

Is there really a problem with transit along this area? Are those few who walk along this stretch of pavement upset by having to traverse the crowded sections which are full of hubbub and people?

Streets are social spaces and this is exactly how they should be – full of people! Or do we prefer our streets to be full of cars?

So what’s the problem? Why this negative attitude to plenty of people on a pavement? Surely our streets should be ‘people spaces’ and not traffic spaces.