Yeah, this fairly normal. It's not like it's every street. These are boulevards, like arteries through a city. The traffic isn't high enough for a highway but too much for single lanes. Usually lined with businesses and stuff like that.

I've been a walker for most of my life. It's really not a big deal. You cross when you can. Stopping in the median/island is normal. Most of the time you just cross at a corner that has traffic lights though.

The whole vehicles must stop for pedestrians thing gets really overblown. I never want cars to stop for me. They're 2+ ton metal objects moving faster than I can move, I want them to go past and be away from me. The only time I've ever been hit by a car was when one stopped for me, the driver stopped paying attention, and suddenly hit the gas when I was directly in front of them.

I wave them to pass me. It's just easier.