The central business districts of Sydney and Melbourne are bustling once again, with Melbourne experiencing its busiest period in nearly a decade.
The surge in pedestrian activity near Melbourne’s town hall is at its highest level since 2015, and more than double the levels seen in 2020, according to data from the City of Melbourne.
The increase in foot traffic is attributed in part to the influx of people attending Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, with the pop superstar’s concert marking the busiest day in 2024.
In Sydney, the CBD has almost returned to full health, with the weekly average number of people heading into the city on Sundays in December exceeding pre-pandemic levels by 137%.
However, there are still many people choosing to work from home rather than commuting to the office in the city, according to a spokesperson for the City of Sydney.
The sensors that capture pedestrian numbers across Melbourne have seen significant growth year-on-year since the pandemic, with Melbourne Central and Southern Cross stations experiencing the biggest increases.
Despite the return of bustling city life, some business owners have noted that the regular workforce has not fully returned, with Thursdays becoming the new Fridays as more people work from home at the end of the week.
Overall, the return of weekend crowds and the resurgence of events like Taylor Swift’s concert have contributed to the revival of city life in Melbourne and Sydney.
2024-03-15 22:46:48
Article from www.theguardian.com
