There’s something empowering about walking — moving nimbly, unencumbered on one’s own legs — across an urban metropolis. Relying solely on my own limbs, I can go anywhere the city will let me, but while depending on transportation (subway, car, bicycle, etc), I’m restricted by the unnatural limitations and pathways of a vehicle.
Thank goodness for New York. I’m quite glad to be back in a place where I don’t have to rely on anything or anyone but myself to get to where I want to be (ahem, California freeways). Of course I love the subway and cabs and all of that for convenience (not using them here is idiotic!), but knowing that I can get places on my own two feet gives me a leg up over the miles of pavement in this town.
[Pictured: Central Park from 95th or so and CPW via iPhone. I spent this weekend walking as much of Manhattan and Brooklyn as I could — UES, UWS, Chelsea, Flatiron, Murray Hill, Gramercy, BK Heights, Cobble Hill, Fort Greene, all on foot.)