I usually walked fast in urban settings; sometimes it was because I need to catch the next bus or train, but it was always because walking like you have somewhere to be is a safety mechanism for a lone woman. But I varyiedmy route and took notice of my surroundings for the same reason - I am currently a rural dweller, and still remember the details of my urban walks.
A friend let me borrow On Looking years ago. What an amazing book—one of my top 10 or 20 I reference, quote, and bring up often to people. I need to pick it up again. Now that it is warmer than 50 degrees and not spitting rain on me regularly, I’ve remembered that Elliot Bay (part of Puget Sound) is just down the hill from my office. The city is spiffying up the waterfront paths and beaches there in anticipation of World Cup crowds next month and I’ve been walking down regularly to see their progress and then stare at the water and ferries and cruise ships. I spend my day as a therapist in other people’s psyches, so it is real nice to get out and remember I have a body.
My roommate in college would walk very slowly everywhere. She called it moseying and did a fabulous job of criticizing all the rush. She was also a missionary kid who constantly asked me why i did things the way i did. It drove me batty the way she made me question the most normal procedures I had, but she changed my life. She was like a living On Looking, making me pay attention to what I took for granted.
Had the walking speed data been corrected for average age?
Dorchester, Dorset is dead slow. Here, it is the people with walking sticks who hold you up and not youngsters looking at their phones (though you do need to watch out for the mobility scooters, which can clip you, or run over your feet as the riders relish expressing their inner boy/girl racer).
There's long been a stereotype that no one walks faster than a gay man holding an iced coffee. I generally don't walk with coffee in my hand, but I have definitely been clocked as both gay AND a fast walker (cue "Move, I'm gay!" GIF).
Wonder if that factors in, depending on the neighborhood. Does the Castro have a higher median walk speed? Lots to mine there. In my 40s now, though, I don't walk as fast as I used to. I am always out to see stuff, so I spend a lot of time noticing. And as a birder, I know for a fact that the slower you move the more you see. Standing still for one minute in nature gives birds a chance to stop registering you as a threat and start being birds again. It makes for some great observations!
Fast walker here. I especially enjoyed your description of the teen blockade. Not sure what I would have done in that situation. One of the most interesting comments I heard recently: we hosted a teenage exchange student this winter. She came from the midwest, and the moment she drove down our street for the first time, she commented: "You have no sidewalks" I thought that was fascinating. I had not thought about that.
I used to work with a guy from Colombia. I'm about 6' tool, he was maybe 5 1/2. He walked way faster than me. I literally couldn't keep up. One day I mentioned his speed. He replied: "I'm from Bogota. We all walk fast" 😂
Thank you for the mention here, Mike! I really like this piece and everything you've brought together in it. I especially like the idea of a 'non-experience' for a walk you are not present in—great term.
Re: taking a random wrong term. I just read today that using your brain’s navigation center is useful for postponing dementia. Apparently cabdrivers are (were) much less likely to develop Alzheimer’s.
I wonder if the push to walk for your health, "get your steps in" might be one reason for the faster pace. You need some speed to get your heart rate up. I tend to feel a little naughty if I just amble, rather than striding along, arms swinging :)
Enjoyed this. I am a fast walker, even by New York City standards. But the vast majority of my walking takes place in Central Park and I see lots of people dawdling or being still.
Have you encountered studies on the utility of soft fascination? It seems like that's part of what you're talking about:
https://ashasanaker.substack.com/p/sht-to-help-you-show-up-81a
I have not! New rabbit-hole to dive down unlocked, thank you.
I usually walked fast in urban settings; sometimes it was because I need to catch the next bus or train, but it was always because walking like you have somewhere to be is a safety mechanism for a lone woman. But I varyiedmy route and took notice of my surroundings for the same reason - I am currently a rural dweller, and still remember the details of my urban walks.
A friend let me borrow On Looking years ago. What an amazing book—one of my top 10 or 20 I reference, quote, and bring up often to people. I need to pick it up again. Now that it is warmer than 50 degrees and not spitting rain on me regularly, I’ve remembered that Elliot Bay (part of Puget Sound) is just down the hill from my office. The city is spiffying up the waterfront paths and beaches there in anticipation of World Cup crowds next month and I’ve been walking down regularly to see their progress and then stare at the water and ferries and cruise ships. I spend my day as a therapist in other people’s psyches, so it is real nice to get out and remember I have a body.
My roommate in college would walk very slowly everywhere. She called it moseying and did a fabulous job of criticizing all the rush. She was also a missionary kid who constantly asked me why i did things the way i did. It drove me batty the way she made me question the most normal procedures I had, but she changed my life. She was like a living On Looking, making me pay attention to what I took for granted.
I love the subheadings.
Had the walking speed data been corrected for average age?
Dorchester, Dorset is dead slow. Here, it is the people with walking sticks who hold you up and not youngsters looking at their phones (though you do need to watch out for the mobility scooters, which can clip you, or run over your feet as the riders relish expressing their inner boy/girl racer).
There's long been a stereotype that no one walks faster than a gay man holding an iced coffee. I generally don't walk with coffee in my hand, but I have definitely been clocked as both gay AND a fast walker (cue "Move, I'm gay!" GIF).
Wonder if that factors in, depending on the neighborhood. Does the Castro have a higher median walk speed? Lots to mine there. In my 40s now, though, I don't walk as fast as I used to. I am always out to see stuff, so I spend a lot of time noticing. And as a birder, I know for a fact that the slower you move the more you see. Standing still for one minute in nature gives birds a chance to stop registering you as a threat and start being birds again. It makes for some great observations!
Fast walker here. I especially enjoyed your description of the teen blockade. Not sure what I would have done in that situation. One of the most interesting comments I heard recently: we hosted a teenage exchange student this winter. She came from the midwest, and the moment she drove down our street for the first time, she commented: "You have no sidewalks" I thought that was fascinating. I had not thought about that.
I used to work with a guy from Colombia. I'm about 6' tool, he was maybe 5 1/2. He walked way faster than me. I literally couldn't keep up. One day I mentioned his speed. He replied: "I'm from Bogota. We all walk fast" 😂
Thank you for the mention here, Mike! I really like this piece and everything you've brought together in it. I especially like the idea of a 'non-experience' for a walk you are not present in—great term.
Re: taking a random wrong term. I just read today that using your brain’s navigation center is useful for postponing dementia. Apparently cabdrivers are (were) much less likely to develop Alzheimer’s.
I wonder if the push to walk for your health, "get your steps in" might be one reason for the faster pace. You need some speed to get your heart rate up. I tend to feel a little naughty if I just amble, rather than striding along, arms swinging :)
Enjoyed this. I am a fast walker, even by New York City standards. But the vast majority of my walking takes place in Central Park and I see lots of people dawdling or being still.