A few months ago, I moved from New York—the pedestrian capital of the planet, “hey, I’m walkin’ here,” etc.—to Los Angeles, a city of clogged freeways. But contrary to my expectations, much of L.A. is rather walkable. The sidewalks are usually empty, and the weather’s almost always nice.

It was while walking around my adopted neighborhood of Los Feliz that I was struck by a curious flyer attached to a streetlight. It advertised the services of a “People Walker,” pointing me toward a Facebook page.

Photo by Miles Klee

Walking in L.A. may have been more pleasant than I’d been led to believe, though strolling these sunny streets could also often be lonely. I wasted no time in contacting the People Walker and arranging an appointment for the following afternoon. (Full disclosure, he waived his usual $7 per mile fee in light of the fact that I’d be reviewing his service.)

A few minutes before 2pm on the day, I got word that the People Walker had arrived. Though his ad notes that his shirt is “optional,” I’d neglected to specify either way, so he’d come along in a white tee that announced—in bold marker—that he was, in fact, the People Walker. This seemed like a smart way to avoid any possible confusion, as anyone who has tried to get into an Uber that turns out not to be one would doubtless agree.