We also bring down from chazal many inyanim of the importance of honoring your wife and it would seem that making her walk several feet behind you would be a real bushah. I’ve walked around just about all the frum neighborhoods in BP, Willy, Lakewood, Monsey etc. on many shabbosim and yom tovim and the vast majority of couples out for a walk are walking side by side with the kids and talking like normal people. We cannot live our lives in fear of what some pervert might read into a normal function of a husband/wife simply walking together on a public street for all to see, dressed appropriately and acting appropriately. I’m sure you are right that there are some who might engage in the chumrah of making their wives walk several feet behind them but it would seem such bizarre behavior would make them stand out and attract more attention than walking together.
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