Do we have enough recreational spaces during pandemics? An answer based on the analysis of individual mobility patterns in Switzerland

Densification of cities threatens the provision of public open space for people living in and around cities. The increasing evidence of the many benefits of recreational walking for physical and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted an urgent need for fostering the availability of public open space. In this context, urban planners need information to anticipate recreational needs and propose long-term, resilient solutions that consider the growing demand driven by increasing urban population and intensified in times of crisis such as the recent pandemic. In this paper, we harness the unique large MOBIS:COVID-19 GPS travel diary data on mobility behaviour collected during a normal baseline period and during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in the Canton of Zurich Switzerland. We estimate a sufficiency rate that allows to geolocate locations where the demand for public open space is higher than the available offer. In a second step, we explore if preference patterns for recreational areas have changed during the pandemic. Results indicate that the main cities and important towns in the case study area are saturated by current demand, and that the pandemic has amplified the problem. In particular, urban dwellers look for tranquil areas to recreate. Such information is crucial to guide decision-making processes for planning the cities of the future.

Automated summary

The densification of cities poses a threat to public open space provision for residents in and around cities. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the urgent need to promote the availability of public open space, as recreational walking has been shown to have numerous benefits for physical and mental health. This study utilizes data on mobility behavior during both a normal period and the first wave of the pandemic to assess the sufficiency of public open space and explore changes in preference patterns during the crisis.