For these reasons, I think walking is the best way for people to get around.
I primarily walk everywhere: to and from the university, to restaurants, the gym, parks, shopping malls and bazaars (a type of market). It has generally been convenient since my host family's apartment is centrally located. On a typical day, I walk anywhere from four to six miles, but that can easily get closer to ten miles. My record so far is 13 miles! How much do you walk in your average day?
Walking around the city can vary depending on the weather and ongoing city-wide construction. My walk to class changes a little every day depending on street and sidewalk renovations (side note: this also causes neighborhood hot water and power outages that last a few hours to a week). It is generally easy to navigate the city without getting lost because there are maps on many street corners and a popular downloadable map called "2GIS," which provides accurate directions if you are unsure.
Crossing streets tends to feel a bit precarious because of the drivers. I have been told never to try to cross a street on a red light, and even green lights do not always seem to guarantee pedestrians' right of way. Additionally, there are many crosswalks in Almaty that do not have signals instructing drivers to stop. For me, crossing at these designated places is not easy. I usually scurry across the street, leaving a trail of curse words from the drivers trying to speed through the street. Vehicles slow down as little as possible, sometimes maintaining speed and swerving around you. If you stand at one of these crosswalks long enough, however, cars will usually come to a stop and let you cross.
