Since the early stages of motorisation, the place and role of pedestrians on the roads and in traffic have varied a lot, especially in urban areas. Changes reflect the evolution of our societies, in particular the new mobility practices introduced by the generalization of individual motorisation as well as the planning and transport policies which have promoted or accompanied these new practices. Setting up a historical perspective is useful in order to understand the present mobility conditions of pedestrians as well as to anticipate, and possibly guide, future changes. Most of the following overview of time-related changes in the pedestrian situation is based on researchers' experience in transport and planning spanning the last four decades. This is therefore not an academic history paper, but a contribution by participants in the historical process.