A new study shows that the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic will be felt for a long time as it has changed people’s daily habits. In particular, many are spending more time at home, which has the potential to transform urban infrastructure and neighborhood design.
A study published in the Journal of the American Planning Association indicates that already in 2023, people were spending about 51 fewer minutes away from home than before 2020. At the same time, daily commute time was reduced by 12 minutes.
The study is based on an analysis of data from more than 34,000 respondents to the American Time Use Survey covering 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023. The researchers noted that the pandemic has catalyzed a reduction in time spent outside the home, affecting virtually all activities, from attending cultural events to shopping and commuting.
At the same time, respondents began to spend more time on household chores and entertainment. Thus, of 16 possible types of activities that can be done at home, the time has been increased for 13 of them. These changes, according to the authors of the study, can stimulate the restructuring of urban spaces. In particular, cities can move away from their usual business orientation towards creating areas more suitable for housing and leisure.
The decline in the number of commuters is pushing cities to rethink their purpose. Instead of focusing on industrial infrastructure, they may focus more on consumption, leisure and entertainment. City planners can reduce the number of office and commercial buildings in favor of residential complexes and recreational areas.
In the face of these changes, traditional investments in road and commuter rail expansion can give way to projects aimed at creating safe infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists and supporting accessible transportation for vulnerable populations. Plans to create dense residential complexes, popular with low-income youth, are increasingly important, as such spaces provide access to all necessary services within walking distance.
A recent Pew Research Center survey shows that nearly 60% of employees prefer to work remotely if possible. This trend confirms that it is important for cities to adapt to new realities, becoming more comfortable for life and leisure than for daily office work.
Cursor previously wrote that Scientists said humanity needs to prepare for a new pandemic.. The emergence and spread of new pathogens is inevitable.
