Going for a walk was an unhealthy activity

You may be surprised to know this. “Going for a walk” wasn't really an activity in itself until the late 18th century. Walking as a leisure activity emerged around the 1780s. Until then, walking had been an act of necessity. It was associated with poverty, laziness and even criminal intentions. Going for a walk was an unhealthy activity.

It was famous walkers like Charles Dickens who made the pastime of walking fashionable. The religious zeal with which Dickens carried out his daily “walking work” is known. He covered an average of 19 km per day and at a remarkable pace of more than 6 km per hour. It was an essential cog in Dickens's creative process.

Going for a walk was an unhealthy activity, something that has changed radically.
Going for a walk was an unhealthy activity, something that has changed radically.

Horses and manure

He made everything from raids in the slums of London to night marches driven by insomnia. Their encounters provided the eccentric brilliance of his characters. They were street snapshots held “in regular order on different shelves in my brain Ready with their labels to be shown when I want them,” she wrote.

In the 19th century, walking was a completely different experience. It is estimated that 300,000 horses roamed the streets of London. They left more than 1,000 tons of manure a day.

Social reform and urban planning have advanced dramatically. Now taking an urban walk is a much more pleasant experience. But at that time, going for a walk was an unhealthy activity.

In many cities, horse manure was a serious problem.
In many cities, horse manure was a serious problem.

Implicit rules

The paths have changed, but many codes of conduct prevail. Victorian pedestrian etiquette is still relevant today. In 1780 an article about it was published in the popular London Magazine. It described “Rules of behavior, in general use, although widely ignored in this populous city.” He advised himself, among other things, “to be careful to look intently at the faces of those who pass by. An authoritarian look gives the appearance of a bully, and an intrusive look gives the appearance of a sheriff.”

Unspoken rules can change over time (distracted phone users know). But there is much about the sidewalks that retains its Victorian decorum. They are a place of multiplicity and variety, culture and commerce: a stretch of land to celebrate all year round.

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