Street Walking

One of the joys of living in Whitechapel is that the numerous streets facilitate spontaneous meetings between friends and neighbours. A visit to the market will usually be punctuated by an unexpected conversation with someone you’ve not spoken to for months or even years.

Two women converse on Whitechapel Rd, 1987

Streets are a cities capillaries that bring people and ideas together. A street encounter is more enduring than being ‘poked’ on facebook.

Shopping Mall in Melaka, Malaysia 2008

Towns or cities that evolve around a culture of car travel and shopping malls strip people of an informal means of communication.

Two women converse, Brick Lane 2009

In the UK we take our streets for granted and I berate friends who always travel around in their car and miss the sustainable joys of street walking.

Street conversation, New York 2005

Many countries will build roads and shopping malls before they think of pedestrians. After all pedestrians are people who don’t have a car and a disposable income.

Street talk, Paris 2011