Walking





Walking is one of the main forms of transportation without vehicle. Others
include running, crawling, swimming, (for certain animals) flying and being
carried by an animal or human. The word is derived from the Old English
walcan (to roll).

It is distinguished from running by the fact that at any time at least one
foot has contact with the ground.

For humans walking is the main form of transportation without vehicle or
animal. A pedestrian is a walking person, in particular on a road (if
available on the sidewalk/path).

Many people walk as a hobby, and in our post-industrial age it is often
enjoyed as a form of exercise. The types of walking include bush walking,
racewalking, hill walking, volksmarching, and hiking on long distance paths.
In some countries walking is known as hiking, rambling, or tramping. More
obscure terms for walking include "to go by Marrow-bone stage", "to ride
Shank's pony" or "to go by Walker's bus"

The world's largest registration walking event is the International Nijmegen
Four Days Marches. The annual Labor Day walk on Mackinac Bridge draws over
60,000 participants. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge walk annually draws over
50,000 participants.

In Britain, the Ramblers' Association is the biggest organisation which
looks after the interests of walkers. A registered charity, it has 139,000 members.