The article nicely points out that New York City also had an elevated sidewalk (or plans) in the late 1800s!

Here are the designs and sketches. It sounds so reasonable. I am curious why they didn't keep it.

https://culturenow.org/site/a5883d3d-b1fa-4cb1-a6ca-a3a692e5...

https://www.6sqft.com/in-1872-broadway-almost-became-a-giant...

Then the car industry got rid of the idea (along with the trams).

https://www.boweryboyshistory.com/2016/06/a-city-of-bridges-...

https://www.nytimes.com/1915/05/06/archives/elevated-sidewal...

https://www.archpaper.com/2015/11/long-history-tall-sidewalk...