'World is walking 10% faster'

The pace at which city dwellers walk has increased by 10 per cent in the last decade, a new study has shown.

The findings, from 32 countries, reflect the fact that increasing numbers of people are living in the fast lane.

Teams with stop watches timed how long it took 35 men and women to walk along a 60ft stretch of pavement.

Comparing the results with those compiled by US psychologist Professor Robert Levine in the 1990s, the study showed that people were, on average, now walking 10 per cent faster. Men are generally 25 per cent quicker on their feet than women.

People were in the greatest hurry in Singapore. Following in their footsteps were the residents of Copenhagen and Madrid, the two fastest-paced European cities.

Surprisingly, London is relatively slow compared with some other cities, the results show. On the list of 32 international cities, compiled by British psychologist Professor Richard Wiseman, it ranked only 12th.

The findings also explode the myth of the laid back Irish. Dublin topped Prof Levine's table in 1997 and takes fifth place on the new list.

New York, the city that never sleeps, provided another surprise. The Big Apple is renowned for its buzzing and frenetic pace of life, yet ranks only eighth.

A closer look at the UK showed that the fastest walkers were in London, followed by Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff.

The study was carried out with the help of the British Council, which promotes cultural links in 109 countries.

Researchers in each city found a busy street with a wide pavement that was flat, free from obstacles, and sufficiently uncrowded to allow people to walk at their maximum speed.

They only monitored adults who were on their own, and ignored anyone conducting a mobile phone conversation or struggling with shopping bags.

The average walking times in seconds from each city studied were as follows:

1) Singapore (Singapore); 10.55

2) Copenhagen (Denmark); 10.82

3) Madrid (Spain); 10.89

4) Guangzhou (China): 10.94

5) Dublin (Ireland); 11.03

6) Curitiba (Brazil); 11.13

7) Berlin (Germany); 11.16

8) New York (US); 12.00

9) Utrecht (Netherlands); 12.04

10) Vienna (Austria); 12.06

11) Warsaw (Poland); 12.07

12) London (United Kingdom); 12.17

13) Zagreb (Croatia); 12.20

14) Prague (Czech Republic); 12.35

15) Wellington (New Zealand); 12.62

16) Paris (France); 12.65

17) Stockholm (Sweden); 12.75

18) Ljubljana (Slovenia); 12.76

19) Tokyo (Japan); 12.83

20) Ottawa (Canada); 13.72

21) Harare (Zimbabwe); 13.92

22) Sofia (Bulgaria); 13.96

23) Taipei (Taiwan): 14.00

24) Cairo (Egypt); 14.18

25) Sana (Yemen); 14.29

26) Bucharest (Romania); 14.36

27) Dubai (United Arab Emirates); 14.64

28) Damascus (Syria); 14.94

29) Amman (Jordan); 15.95

30) Bern (Switzerland); 17.37

31) Manama (Bahrain); 17.69

32) Blantyre (Malawi); 31.60