I just did my first bike commute in Berlin Germany today. They have bike street light, and bike lanes that are on the side walk! Couple things seem to make a difference. Pedestrians are treated like pedestrians, bikes are treated like bikes, and cars are treated like cars. There seems to be an understanding that they are different, which helps. So unlike my experience in Portland (even though Portland is light years ahead of the rest of the country) where if I’m on the side walk I get yelled at by pedestrians but on the road I get yelled at by cars, here in Berlin Cars are aware of cyclist and pedestrians, bikes are aware of cars and pedestrians and pedestrians are aware of cyclist and cars. So they all work together.
Also, most cyclist don’t wear helmets, cars are definitely smaller and street cleaners are everywhere (no glass).