‘You can never really absorb it all’

Josh Richards is on a quest to cover every inch of New York City – with nothing more than a cup of coffee and his trusty Hocus Pocus.

bushwick resident Walked and ran nearly 2,000 miles in the concrete jungle in just two years – gaining an up-close-and-personal view of a Big Apple neighborhood that even the most dedicated New Yorkers would never get the chance to see.

“Every neighborhood has its own charm,” said Richards, 46. “For most people, they’re getting little snapshots of different places. I am very fortunate that I am getting a comprehensive view of this place.

Richards is following in the footsteps of William Helmreich, literally and figuratively Matt Green, both of whom famously scripted Over the past decade their scholars have driven nearly 6,000 miles of Big Apple roads.

But Richards, the general manager of a Midtown vegan restaurant, is upping his pace: He can often be seen running, and runs up to 80 miles per weekend.

“I walk at about a 4-mph pace. I’m definitely in the 99th percentile of New Yorkers,” he said.

The fast-paced jogger has already checked out most of Brooklyn, lower Manhattan and the trendy west side of Queens – mostly because Every move starts at his front door In Bushwick.

“When I leave home, I usually have no idea where I am going. I’ll just start walking or running and once I’m going in a certain direction and I find an area I haven’t covered yet, I’ll be out there,” Richards said.

“I’ve gotten to the point where if I leave the house it takes about 4 miles until I find anything new.”

This doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a methodology: Richards usually travels a straight path for several miles before detouring and making his own way on nearby roads.

For coastal areas, such as the College Point Peninsula and all of Staten Island, vegan runners like to start at the outer perimeter and move inward.

Some routes involve more elaborate planning – Richards intends to participate in an upcoming marathon because it is the only time of year the Verrazzano Bridge is open to foot traffic.

Richards’ approach also included a lot of walking – which led to several confrontations with honking drivers during his two-year journey.

“I was attacked with a knife, spit on my face,” Richards claimed, adding that honking is his biggest habit.

“It’s just crazy recklessness about anyone else around you. It doesn’t do anything! If you’re sitting at a red light and just blowing your horn, the cars in front of you can’t move!”

But arguments and honking barely get on Richards’ radar — he said he prefers to focus on the people he’s met, the hugs he gives strangers and, of course, a new Prefer to focus on the joy of exploring the neighborhood.

He especially appreciates the tranquility of Brooklyn Heights and the history of Greenwood Cemetery – but Richards’ favorite part of fast-paced walks is appreciating the architecture of churches and religious institutions.

“I’ve been in love with New York since I came to it – since the first day I spent here. I was just overwhelmed: the energy of this place, the beauty of it,” said Richards, who moved to Brooklyn in 2012.

Originally from Ohio, Richards has lived around the world, spending time in Florida, Arizona, Colorado, and California – notably living in cities that were not walkable.

The accessibility of New York City was a major draw for transplants, who had already explored hundreds of the city’s streets via bicycle over the past decade before starting their mission on foot.

Despite winning nearly a quarter of a share of the Big Apple in just two years, Richards’ pace has slowed considerably in recent weeks — in part due to the hustle and bustle of the new job. But their mission has also given them a new appreciation for the roads they regularly pass.

“When I’m in my neighborhood, I notice something I never noticed before. You can never really absorb it all, Richards said.

“For me, it’s just entertainment. If I get hit by a bus next week and I can’t finish it, that’s too bad, but in the grand scheme of things that’s OK,” he adds.