Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Behavior Changes of People Staying in Station Front Plaza

Introduction 1.Social backgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has persisted worldwide since 2020.Due to its high infectivity and pathogenicity, most countries have adopted various measures and policies to avoid infection in crowds 1)2)3) .These measures triggered notable shifts in travel behavior: long-distance commuting via public transit dropped sharply while short-distance local travel increased.Studies of pedestrian behavior have further observed changes such as maintained walking speeds but greater social distancing compared to pre-pandemic norms.The pandemic also led to declines in certain commercial activities -such as cafs, fast-food, and shopping malls during the outbreak.Even as restrictions eased in 2022 to balance economic recovery with public health, many of these behavior changes have persisted.This indicates a lasting awareness of infection risk that still influences people's activities in public spaces.Indirect effects of COVID-19 on stations include altered passenger behavior -changes in how travelers distribute in space, choose routes, maintain social distance, use facilities, and spend time at the station 4) .Public parks, and plazas, especially those situated in front of major transportation hubs like railway stations, have served as vital communal hubs for social interaction, relaxation, and various activities.These spaces have witnessed significant changes in usage patterns due to the pandemic's restrictions and subsequent shifts in public behaviors 5)6) .Importantly, our previous studies confirm that these changes were driven by the pandemic itself rather than by unrelated cityscape developments 7)8) .These findings demonstrate that when the physical environment remains constant, behavioral shifts can be directly attributed to COVID-19.Following the same approach, this study compares Himeji Station Front Plaza North in 2017 and 2022, where the plaza layout was unchanged, thereby allowing the impact of COVID-19 to be isolated with confidence. Related worksSince the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous studies have examined the impact of the COVID-19 on public space use, particularly in transportation hubs, which has been a topic of interest for many researchers.Studies have compared public space usage before and during COVID-19 across global cities using big data and field surveys, consistently showing significant shifts in where and how people spend time outdoors 9) .(1) Urban public space usage changes Researchers noted a significant decline in passenger numbers and an increase in short-time stays and social distancing practices in station areas 6) .Studies on urban parks in Japan and overseas have shown both increases in daily visits and shifts toward more localized and shorterdistance use 10) .Other surveys found that the availability of "third places," such as cafs and community facilities, sharply declined during the pandemic, influencing people's well-being 6) .The relaxation of restrictions in 2022 allowed for some recovery in commercial and business activities, yet the behavioral changes persisted.People continued to maintain social distancing and avoided high-density areas, indicating long-term adaptations to the pandemic conditions 11) .( 2) Crowd and flow analytical tools To capture such changes, diverse methods have been applied.Mobile spatial statistics and behavioral elasticity diagrams have been used Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Behavior Changes of People Staying in Station Front Plaza