Math, retrospect: walking speed

Self-tutoring about being a pedestrian: the tutor reflects regarding walking speed.

When I was a kid, we walked nearly everywhere. We did have bikes, but used them more for planned, return trips. For just going “out,” nowhere in particular, we usually walked.

One day, during a walk between nowhere and nowhere else, one of my friends pointed out that typical walking speed is 2 miles per hour. (This was, believe it or not, before Canada went metric.) Two miles per hour is about 3.2 km per hour.

I’ve been intrigued by that idea ever since I heard it. It seems slow, yet, walking casually, it’s perhaps correct.

Yesterday I walked 4.6km and it took exactly an hour. Yet, it was a purposeful walk, rather than casual. Compared to 3.2km/hr, 4.6km/hr is about 44% faster.

I think, for a casual walk, 2 miles per hour is quite a good estimate. I’ve always wondered whence my friend learned it, way back then.