Ramble On

Biking, hiking and running have long been the favored sports among nature lovers, but, as it turns out, you don’t really need wheels, a canyon trail or a proclivity for cardiovascular pain to enjoy the great outdoors while getting some exercise. Although biking has been hogging the limelight as the eco-conscious commuter’s (and hipster’s) preferred transportation mode, walking is hitting its own stride, as more people are hitting the pavement, slowly, on nothing but their own two feet:

Walking In LA: Perhaps inspired by their NYC counterparts, a growing number of Angelenos are rejecting their cars in favor of exploring their traffic-congested city on foot. In fact, ‘walking in LA’ seems to be becoming a hobby unto itself. Perhaps following in the footsteps of Greenberg‘s carless title character, a number of our trend correspondents have reported walking from their home digs in Echo Park to the beach in Venice. The journey often comprises a two-day adventure, in which they spend one day getting there, followed by a beach sleepover and, after resting up, trek home on the following day. Meanwhile, GOOD recently published a miniseries called “Walking in L.A.,” in which journalist Ryan Bradley investigated nearly every major street across the city on foot. Missing Persons may have to rewrite some of their lyrics.

Walking Diets: Everyone knows that one of the best ways to counter post-meal lead stomach syndrome is to take a stroll after eating. Now, NYC-based trainer Melissa Delancey is positioning this common sense advice as a diet. But rather than merely prescribing a 20-block stroll after inhaling a slice of pizza, the ‘Walk Before You Eat’ diet suggests sandwiching a meal between long distance walks before and after. For example, East Village residents might trudge to Astoria for an authentic Greek nosh, while, in Brooklyn, Carroll Gardens dwellers might check out the pizza competition by traipsing up to Arthur Avenue in the Bronx. The simple act of walking purportedly burns 50-to-80 calories per mile, so even the most indulgent consumption can be justified by practicing this diet. We may even have to invest in a pair of EasyTones to really maximize its impact.

Walking Charities: An organization devoted to making the UK more pedestrian-friendly, the Ramblers, is celebrating its 75th year. The anniversary has been marked by much fanfare, spawning a revived interest in walking as a pastime in the UK. Formerly known as the Ramblers Association, the rebranded Ramblers remain committed to making public pathways available to all UK walkers. What’s more, they’re now promoting walking to those who don’t typically take to their feet. What was once a stodgy activity associated with anoraks and canteens is looking to attract a metropolitan demographic more likely to outfit themselves in clothes from Topshop than wares from Blacks. Let’s hope they don’t change too much though, since, the Ramblers offers a valuable bit of nostalgia for those who grew up in the UK that feels as quintessentially British as The Wombles of Wimbledon.