The slow death of purposeless walking

[hunter]

By Finlo Rohrer
BBC News Magazine



A number of recent books have lauded the connection between walking - just for its own sake - and thinking. But are people losing their love of the purposeless walk?

Walking is a luxury in the West. Very few people, particularly in cities, are obliged to do much of it at all. Cars, bicycles, buses, trams, and trains all beckon.

Instead, walking for any distance is usually a planned leisure activity. Or a health aid. Something to help people lose weight. Or keep their fitness. But there's something else people get from choosing to walk. A place to think.

Wordsworth was a walker. His work is inextricably bound up with tramping in the Lake District. Drinking in the stark beauty. Getting lost in his thoughts.

I was reminded by this article that I haven't enjoyed a random walk for a couple of weeks. I usually go with my dogs, out in the open spaces and we follow their impulses as much as they follow mine.

I've also walked some major cities randomly, often when my wife was attending meetings and conferences for her work. My favorites are San Francisco and Chicago.

When I was young and reckless and single I would go on random runs, paying zero attention to boundaries of any sort which sometimes got me in trouble for trespassing. I never did get arrested, shot, mugged, blown up by land mines, etc., but I did have a few interesting encounters with people I wouldn't have otherwise met.

I'd like to live in a society that wasn't so violent, paranoid, and oppressive as ours is, one where I could wander about aimlessly and still be considered a "responsible adult" and not have to worry that some crazy person with a gun was going to shoot me for some reason so nebulous as trespassing.

[Skittles]

1. I no longer see people "lost in their thoughts"

they are lost in their handhelds, and they look pathetic

[ashling]

4. I have seen some teapartiers, however

lost in their voices

[fizzgig]

2. i love walking for the sake of it

it's something i'm going to try to do more now that it's nice.

[kentauros]

3. I have nothing against those that can get "lost in thought" through a good walk.

However, I tend to do most of my best thinking while driving, especially when traffic is light. Or while showering

[Taitertots]

5. I barely ever see people stopping what they are doing and thinking, in any context

Even something as simple as just having a good quiet sit.

[marzipanni]

6. Cities are fun for people watching, and seeing interesting human creations,

but I especially like walking where there's no traffic/fumes to deal with. I love to walk all day in the open spaces where there's fresh air to breathe, and there are birds, animals, and plants to see.

In England they call it rambling-
http://www.ramblers.org.uk/what-we-do.aspx