Orbiting is when you arrive near your destination, then take a little walk around the block or area before your appointment or task. “Around” may be imagined in the loosest form, so zig-zagging circuitous routes count too. Orbiting gives one a chance to collect thoughts, gather info (such as where to get a ginger ale) and prepare for spaceship-like landings.
Tag Archives: AdvancedWalkingTechniques
Advanced Walking Technique #6 : HEADSWIVELING
(Owl images from Johns Hopkins University via BBC)
A stretching exercise you can do while walking and looking. Excerwalking. You’re turning your noggin a little bit to the left and right, every step. You can go 90 degrees each way right? Use headswiveling to snap-survey your surroundings, find paths ahead, and note potential stumbling blockage. Cheat a little with your back and see how close you can get to 180. Owls can do about 270.
When you’re stopped for a moment is also a great time to take your neck for a mini-spin. The wise owl, the 3-point baller, the giant robot, all turn their heads to get a better look; that’s advanced walking technique #6. Look all ways while crossing a broad way. You might avoid getting clipped by a scooter.
Check out more AWTs — be safe out there !
Advanced Walking Technique #5 : Full-stopping
Elite walkers are in tune with those around them and know when it’s best to let parties go by. Full stop. Sometimes it makes sense to do a freeze and keep another walker’s lane open. The smoothest full-stoppers continue unbothered, losing only measly seconds for the good of crowd fluidity. When approaching points where we’ll have to stop anyway (street crossings, elevator banks, stair entrances), try decelerating while avoiding impeding anybody. Is someone very young or very old or differently-abled crossing? We can use full-stops to take a breath, look ahead (the next intersection/next road/next floor) and set good examples at crowded multidirectional intersections.
Advanced Walking Technique #4 : Structure-hugging
We’ve all done this one. Structure-hugging is when you walk close to a building or something to avoid getting more wet from a storm. The technique is certainly a wildcard dependent on wind-direction and variety of precipitation. We just had a wet nor’easter in the northeast Friday, and I did a little structure-hugging myself. I didn’t want to carry an umbrella- it was a short walk to the subway so..
This technique comes with its own challenges. Structure-hugging walkers must be mindful of opening doors from said structures, and some buildings are going to drip even more than what the sky is giving- defeating the whole mission. Advanced walkers can usually spot another guinea pig trying it ahead and gauge efficacy accordingly.
Advanced Walking Technique #3 : Side-gliding
Side-gliding is when you turn your torso sideways to avoid bumping others. It’s very useful on walkways with limited width and anywhere there’s a crowd. I often side-glide through grocery store isles, and the technique is virtually necessary when walking on a crowded subway car or platform.
A great cinematic example of this action is demonstrated in the film Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins, or (for younger readers) The Matrix– where the hero employs a side-glide technique in order to dodge bullets (though we do not recommend extending your arms like Neo).
Dodging other walkers is certainly easier than dodging bullets, and we suspect many of you have been side-gliding through throngs for years. Mastery of the technique is not only a polite exercise of human mobility- but at most can reduce chances of becoming involved in a street fight.
Advanced Walking Technique #2 : Periscoping
Why did the human cross the road?
Periscoping is when you stick your head into the street just enough to eye a glimpse of traffic. Runners often do this instinctively at cross streets, but the technique is useful for any walker in a rush who enjoys not being hit by a car.
If there’s a big truck/van/something blocking clear view of the trafficway, simply channel the comic hero Plastic Man and kind of stretch your neck to eyeball a snap-survey and the rest of your body can continue or stop accordingly. Even if motor vehicles are at a standstill, cyclists and skaters may still be zooming. Mastery of this peek-around technique can save valuable seconds during a city walk all while exercising key neck muscles.
Read more advanced walking techniques
Advanced Walking Technique #1: Fast-laning
Fast-laning is when you rush along on the very outer part of the sidewalk or walkway. Outside of the parking meters, outside the planters, the bike-racks, hydrants, mailboxes, scaffolding- likely treating the curb like a balance beam, eyes peeled for animal droppings and automobiles. Even the best planners occasionally find themselves in a rush and if the powerwalk trajectory is congested by stuck-together saunterers and other slow pokery— fastlaning, even if just to pass some crowded clumps, is something we’ve all done. 
Fast-laning : Advanced Walking Technique number one
Advanced Walking Techniques: Introduction
Fashioned on the crisscrossed jaywalker-friendly streets of Boston Massachusetts, and refined on the overcrowded walkways and platforms of New York City, I bring to you a new feature:
Advanced Walking Techniques
These techniques will assist with proficient movement among earthlings on a variety of terrains using your two feet and one brain.
A few fundamentals to keep in mind while walking
- Try to never be in a rush. Rushing increases chances of falling, bumping and other bumbling moves that advanced walkers avoid.
- Don’t wear sandals, flip-flops or other open-toed footwear when walking city streets. Closed, secure footwear offers superior support and protection from pebbles, germs and other comfort invaders including the dreaded “flat tire” if someone (a walking amateur) mistakenly steps on the back of your foot.
- “Pull-over” when checking your phone. If it’s important enough to check (a text, a map), it deserves full attention. People walking behind you will appreciate it, and you’ll decrease chances of a walking accident.
- Keep your eyes on the road. Remember to glance down every so often as walkways can often feature animal excrement, gum and other day-ruiners.