Walking was undoubtedly the most constant of activities. Only the rich could afford litters or horses and although many working people had access to carts, in the narrow streets and alleys they were probably more of an impediment than a convenience. No telephones, telegraphs, or regular postal services sped messages across space. If one had anything to say to anyone, one went to see him. Securing water and food (no refrigeration), getting rid of garbage and wastes, inviting a friend to dinner, all such myriad activities in which humans engage, all required walking. It is true, of course, that distances were probably not great. Preindustrial cities, lacking efficient transportation means, were compact (and thus densely populated) places.

XREF: Connects to how infrastructure constraints shape daily movement and urban density — parallels modern walkability debates and the pre-car city.

Lyn H. Lofland, World of Strangers_ Order a…, loc. 215