[SilasX]

I'm not sure it was even popular for the American well-off (upper middle-class). In Mad Men, I remember them making a point of the characters ridiculing a woman who said she liked to take walks (though she was abnormal in other ways, like being divorced).

(I know it's not top-grade historic research, but they tried to highlight what was known about the 60s, and this matches the environment that inspired Bradbury's story about it.)

[oh_sigh]

They made fun of her because they were all hyper focused on business. To do anything aimlessly, including walking, was basically burning money.

[SilasX]

It was the stay-at-home housewives criticizing her though, who did a ton of aimless stuff themselves.