City use patterns post COVID-19 – reflections of resilience or adaptation

The rapid acceleration of digitisation during COVID-19, coupled with the persistence of remote work practices, has reshaped how people interact in urban environments. These shifts, driven by technological innovation, have altered patterns of agglomeration, potentially disrupting the structure and function of cities. As cities adapt to these changes, understanding their resilience – how they absorb and respond to disruptions is crucial for future planning and policy. City use patterns can impact operational service delivery, urban and transport planning, and, in the longer term, social capital formation and cultural engagement. In this investigation, using Melbourne, Australia, as a case study, we examine localised pedestrian counts to explore city use resilience and adaptability in the aftermath of the recent global pandemic. Specific days and intra-day times are used to represent commuting and leisure and entertainment activities. Using pedestrian counts to gauge changes in city use, enables nuanced social and economic insights, helping policymakers and stakeholders to identify possible initiatives and reforms needed to adapt to shifting community practices. We find that while city use is gradually reaching similar levels to 2019 (pre-COVID-19), a disaggregation across days and times reveals that weekends are significantly busier, while weekdays are quieter. Our analysis suggests a strong revealed preference for leisure-related city use, illustrating an adaptive, resilient (antifragile) city. To the extent our results are generalisable, they indicate that engagement patterns are changing, and policy responses centred around digital connectivity and sustainability will be particularly important to foster thriving, innovative cities.