For the first leg of NetWalkers & Co., we cut through an alley off of Elevado. One of our walkers was astonished. “This is beautiful. I’ve never done this before. It’s so quiet,” she said. It may feel a little sneaky, but I walk through the alleys of Beverly Hills as a matter of course. Like country roads, the maple trees or willows arch over the narrow roadways. There are offerings on the ground from an errant avocado tree. Sometimes a tennis ball with a bit of bounce left to it.

Even during the morning or afternoon rush hours, the alleys are mostly traffic-free-zones. Trash barrels are lined up against one wall, but if I squint and focus on the other side, they do not exist, although I may catch a whiff of Beverly Hills garbage (pronounced kind of French, of course, gar-BAJ.) Alleys in Beverly Hills were created for service visits with the trash cans relegated to the rear so not to mar the curbside appeal of the properties. I see the busy pool guys or the housekeepers out to walk the dogs and we say “good morning.” Homeowners pulling out from their garages seem surprised to see me, but always smile or nod. And of course, there is an occasional scavenger. (And maybe even the artist Bendow.) To be honest, on some days, one could find enough stuff to furnish a studio apartment. Tip: donate not dump, please. (And while you’re out and about with @netwalkers90210, follow @bevhillstrash for more reports from the street plus green news and recycling tips plus @BendowArt who creates art with found stuff.)

As David Yoon from Narrow Streets: Los Angeles said alleyways are “…becoming some of the most meditative walking paths in the city.” Read more from David here: http://bit.ly/97Jb8z  You don’t have to sneak. Enjoy the walk.