This graph made from an observational study in 1976 started the theory, which has become more developed over time.
As one possible explanation for the relationship between city size and foot speed, the researchers suggested that economic factors might play a key role. When a city grows larger, they wrote, wage rate and cost of living increase, and with that the value of a resident’s time. As a result, “economizing on time becomes more urgent and life becomes more hurried and harried,” Walmsley and Lewis suggest.
Lots of neat thoughts in this article, and it must have subconsciously inspired the article that I wrote last month for WECREATENYC. The pace of everything (including walking) is faster in a city; should we slow it down?
(thanks for sharing, infinitezest!)
Jen Bokoff 