As my friends are all too aware, I’ve adopted the “walking strategy” in my life. My rule is that, whenever in Vancouver, I must walk at least one direction to any meeting. Why?
Well here are 3 few reasons:
- Having spent a decade away from Vancouver, I thought walking the city would help me get reacquainted with it (it has!)
- After learning that you essentially burn as many calories walking a specific distance as running it, I thought this might enable me to maintain my love affair chocolate chip cookies and brownies
- My job – which has me on the road a lot – has few demands of me when I’m in Vancouver, so I have the time
However, two other technologies really clinched it for me.
The first was the discovery of books on CD, or, more precisely, books on MP3. The number of lectures (such as those by Larry Lessig) and books (such as the beautifully narrated A Short History of Nearly Everything) that I’ve been able to devour through my shuffle has been astounding.
The second has been the mapping software made possible by Web 2.0 technologies. I use GMaps Pedometer to map out my routes (in part because I’m A-type) but more because, by knowing the distance I can gauge how long it will take me to walk to my destination. This ensures that I arrive (mostly) on time. Also, I can plan out the quietest routes (away from traffic) to ensure I can hear my lecture or book.
I’d also talk about the benefits of keeping one’s carbon emissions low, but with the amount of air travel I engage in, I cannot , at the moment, even begin to go down that road.
So, in short: It’s summer, and you have to try it.
All you nee is an ishuffle. Some books on MP3 and access to Gmaps.
eaves.ca 
Podcasts are excellent too. I recommend checking out TED, SXSW, Seminars About Long Term Thinking (SALT), and This American Life… all free through iTunes.
Podcasts are excellent too. I recommend checking out TED, SXSW, Seminars About Long Term Thinking (SALT), and This American Life… all free through iTunes.
speaking of reducing carbon emissions, I was happy to see this
link on aircanada’s website to calculate emissons for flights
The project that
Zerofootprintis doing is a forestation project in Maple Ridge, British Columbia. The website says it is the only project to have met the criteria for the Canadian Standards Association’s
GHG CleanProjects™ Registry
speaking of reducing carbon emissions, I was happy to see this link on aircanada’s website to calculate emissons for flights The project that Zerofootprintis doing is a forestation project in Maple Ridge, British Columbia. The website says it is the only project to have met the criteria for the Canadian Standards Association’sGHG CleanProjects™ Registry
I second the podcasts. I like them because I can choose ones of different lengths that roughly correspond to the amount of time I will be walking. A long walk = This American Life (50 mins), shorter walk = a TED talk (~15 mins) or Scientific American (~20 mins). Books on tape have never been able to hold my attention for some reason. Maybe I just haven’t tried the right ones.
I second the podcasts. I like them because I can choose ones of different lengths that roughly correspond to the amount of time I will be walking. A long walk = This American Life (50 mins), shorter walk = a TED talk (~15 mins) or Scientific American (~20 mins). Books on tape have never been able to hold my attention for some reason. Maybe I just haven’t tried the right ones.