Gehl and Pandemic

Public Space & Public Life during COVID 19 Executive Summary

What can be said about This crisis has shown us the airports and air travel shaping Covid-19 that hasn’t been said power of behaviour change – our behaviour. already? Rather than simply both how adaptable humans talking and writing about the are, and how much of an From the panopticon in prisons pandemic we want to share impact that adaptation can being adapted to hospitals, the lived experience of it. With have on our society – socially, the Napoleonic widening of the Support of Realdania and environmentally, and of course streets to make space for the the City of Copenhagen, we economically. The key will military movement, to modernist engaged 60 surveyors in 4 cities be to build on the sense of architectural principles based on to understand how our streets community and social cohesion health & nature, all of these are and public spaces, our parks while overcoming the current functional physical approaches and our playgrounds are serving economic crisis, in a way to urgent and major needs. As the very unique needs of our that catalyzes the start to a pandemic regulations are being The Studies have been planned communities during this strange sustainable and climate-ready implemented throughout the and coordinated by Gehl and pandemic. transition world, the question of what will executed by a combination be the future measures. More of Gehl staff, collaborative The first results are listed here Major Events and their importantly, how can we ensure partners, City staff and paid both in terms of snapshots of Long-term Effects a post-COVID19 people-first surveyors. This work is public life during the “lock- implementation and adoption conducted with support from down” as well as highlights of Major global events, such of physical measures that can the philanthropic association the data that we collected. Two as pandemics, economic inform a future sustainable Realdania and Municipality of main questions are guiding our depressions, and wars have public life. Copenhagen. work shaped our societies and the way people experience everyday life. To inform these future • Will things ever go back to the For less than a decade, the after measures, understanding how way they were? effects of 9-11 and our response people are behaving outside • Are there things we are doing to terror has had the biggest their homes - primarily in now that will become part of physical manifestation - with public spaces and streets - is the “new normal”? multiple security measures in paramount for future adoption.

2 Gehl — Making Cities for People That is why Gehl is collecting time enjoy physical activity, fresh cases overlook some of the than individual human cells data, through an inclusive air, and socializing, but from things that are happening in the can bring the entire world to a approach, giving public life and a distance. With no vaccine or public sphere. Each form of data grinding halt. Yet focus on the people a voice before experts cure available, physical space has strengths and weaknesses development of tools and skills shape the response. has now become the mechanism but together they tell a much needed to help us to see, then to fight, prevent, and control more complete story. Gehl’s understand and then act on such Different Approaches and the spread, while providing the data provide complementary difficult to comprehend realities Public Life benefits these places have. insights at eye-level and from might be one of the silver linings Different preventive and reactive a lived experience perspective of the pandemic measures are being enforced In many cases, there are more - people observing people. This with various degrees of rigidity. people spending time in public study sheds light on the micro- From Peru, Chile, Italy, India, spaces in Copenhagen now, stories that can get lost in the the USA, to Denmark and than before COVID19. It is noise of big-data. Sweden. The danish approach paramount that private and has been built upon using public public organizations understand COVID might push urban data space to actively fight the virus the value of public spaces, to not sets and mapping more into while keeping our democratic only help fight a pandemic, but the mainstream - maps of humanity alive. The way the ensure a better future quality of outbreaks, statistics over new Danes and Danish cities handle life. cases, the correlation between the COVID19 crisis is based on things like air pollution and trust and civic responsibility. Big Data vs. Thick Data COVID cases all help us to make Google, Apple and others have sense of the pandemic. Yet no Compared to many other collected macro-regional trends. single piece of information tells countries that have closed urban All of these are trying to give a the full story. It is in fact the spaces or limited outdoor living, glimpse of the impact COVID19 formulation of data into stories public spaces and public life has had on cities. Although these is what really helps us to see are a vital part of Denmark’s datasets and approaches work the invisible and understand the strategy to collectively care for well to get a high level, almost hidden side of things like how one another and at the same global overview, they in some a micro virus much smaller

3 Gehl — Making Cities for People Methods & Tools Overview

What are work, pausing or reprioritisation traffic movement, to mapping Contextualisation of data: One How did we collect of cultural programs on a trees and installing sensors to of the key benefits of digitizing Snapshots? City-level or general strategic determine their impact on air and standardising data is the lived experience decisions that might have had quality, big data can be applied ability to see lots of datasets an effect on why public life took to make informed decisions in context with each other, in data? place as experienced during the that improve the way our cities order to detect behavioural and These are a demonstration and registration. work. Nevertheless, how can we spatial patterns. Throughout impression of public life. The make sure that we also focus on this research, Gehl has tried to Snapshots in this document are understanding the fundamental connect our lived experience results showing how people What are the to people’s wellbeing? And how data from the four cities with The collection of lived use public space in 4 Cities we can we better picture on how larger datasets, such as experience data was conducted have been collecting data from; Snapshots based different spaces are used, and sensor-data from JC Decaux, in four cities over 2 days, 12 Horsens, Helsingør, Svendborg by who? open datasets from the City of hours per day, on April 3-4 2020. and Copenhagen. We call them on? Copenhagen and movement All in all, 60 Surveyors were snapshots because they are During the last couple of years, data from Google and Apple. involved, using Gehl’s platform basically “first impressions” Gehl has developed a digital This contextualization, together to register the data. that can help demonstrate how PSPL (Public Space Public Life) with the use of a large number everyday life is being played out Understanding the platform, that enables people to of photos and observations from in the different Cities. fundamental to people’s efficiently observe public life and the different sites, has led to a wellbeing: In the past years, collect fine grained data about more nuanced picture of public The snapshots are formulated the broad availability of open the life between the buildings. space, shaping the snapshots and made accessible as hardware tools, the creation of By using the platform, we have presented in this document. objective as possible, without online sharing platforms and e.g. been able to register how any further knowledge about the the wider access to different people move, which mode of exact context, other than data data has fostered an increased transportation they use, what collected before in the same focus on the use of big data activities that are the most Cities. At this point, we have not to strengthen and inform popular where and with whom looked into other elements, such urban planning. From tracking people are spending their time. as e.g. on-going construction vehicles to create more efficient

4 Gehl — Making Cities for People Where Helsingør City population 62.686 Gehl public life data collected in 2013 Horsens City population 59.181 ! did we Gehl public life data collected in 2008, 2014 !

! Copenhagen conduct our City population 650.000 Gehl public life data collected in 2019 surveys? ! Svendborg City population 59.181 Gehl public life data collected in 2008

5 Gehl — Making Cities for People Copenhagen Horsens Svendborg Helsingor

Total Perceived Gender Distribution M: Male M F M F M F M F M M F M F F: Female

Before During Before During Before During Before During

Play and P E P Excercise E P: Play P E E: Exercise E P E E P E P P Before During Before During Before During Before During

Children and the C C C C C Elderly C E E E C: Children E E E: Elderly

Before During Before During Before During Before During

Activities 10K 1000 1000 observed during a day. Measured 5K 500 500 throughout a weekday. 0 0 0 661 8 10 1221 14 1662 18 200 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 Predominant Activity Change in predominant activity of people spending time in public spaces. Before During Before During Before During Before During Cafe Seating Public Bench Standing Standing Cafe Seating Standing Not Available Public Bench Seating Seating

6 Gehl — Making Cities for People Map of areas studied in:

7 Gehl — Making Cities for People Map of areas studied in:

8 Gehl — Making Cities for People Map of areas studied in: COPENHAGEN

9 Gehl — Making Cities for People Map of areas studied in:

10 Gehl — Making Cities for People ¬

Snapshots

1 2 3 4 5

There has been a The city is being Use of public space Local places that Popular places significant drop in used more for has remained already offer a make physical downtown activities recreation, play, constant, while public activity (such distancing rules - especially on and exercise. movements from A as a playground) are hard to follow. commercial streets to B have decreased even more popular significantly. than before

6 7 8 9 10

The search for New activities and More children and Different user Overall mobility essential outdoor forms of urban life older people are groups have has decreased, and climatic human are emerging in using the city’s different but pedestrian needs has become many cities space than before. experiences. movement is more valuable increasing outside of the city centre.

11 Gehl — Making Cities for People 1 There has been a significant drop in downtown activities and on commercial streets 1 - 96% - 60% Pedestrians fewer total pedestrians

15000 14040 on main walking street in average acroos the 14000 Sum of 2008Sum of 2014 Pedestrianized 13000 12636 Søndergade streets shown below 15000 12000 14040 14000 Sum of 2008Sum of 2014 11000 Sum of 2008Sum of 2014 13000 15000 12636 10000 15000 14040 12000 14040 9000 14000 14000 Sum of 2008Sum of 2014 11000 12636 8000 13000 12636 shopping streets, 13000 15000 10000 14040 7000 12000 12000 14000Sum of 2008Sum of 2014 9000 5730 6000 11000 12636 Sum of11 2000080Sum of 2014 1300015000 8000 14040 5000 4476 10000 15000 10000 4254 1200014000 7000 9000 14040 4000 9000 12636 3492 14000 3324 1100013000 5730 3126 6000 Sum of 2008Sum of 2014 2904 2904 Su300m0 of 2008Sum of 2061440 8000 2592 13000 8000 1000012000 12636 2322 2196 2160 2148 have been 5000 15000 4476 7000 1866 152000000 14167000 4254 14040 12000 90001110400040 5730 996 4000 14000 6000 7263492 774 141000000 5730 3324 3126 630 420 11000 6000 800010000 126362904 2904 3000 13000 2640 12636 4476 2592 130000 5000 4476 2322 2196 2160 2148 10000 5000 4476 4254 70009000 1866 12000 1524 Sum of 200128Su00m0 of 201K4ongens ade 2000 Hesteda14m16s Hospitalsgade 4000 Søndergade Passa en v S gade 3324 1362 O Jensens Alle J Chr uliussens Vej Borgergade Åboulevarden Havnealle Niels Gyldings Gade 4000 3324 5730 3492 996 3126 9000 11000 60008000 2904 966 2904 3126 726 630 15000 1000 3000 2640 2904 2904 2592 11000 3000 2640 2322 2592 2196 2160 2148 8000 1404050007000 4476 2322 2196 2160 2148 1866 2008Sum oLof 2c0a1�o4 n 0 10000 2000 42541602 1866 1524 especially hard hit 14000 10000 1416 5730 1524 1362 7000 2000 1416 40006000 1362 K9ong000ens ade Hestedams 12636 Hospitalsgade Søndergade Passa en v S 3324gade O Jensens Alle J Chr uliussens Vej Borgergade 996 Åboulevarden H31avn2ea6 lle Niels 13000 9000 828 1000 2904 2904 726 630 774 1000 14040 5730 2640 4476 2592 6000 140800400 30005000 4254 2322 12000 0 2196 2160 2148 8000 0 Loca�on 1866 5000 7000 4476 4254 1263620004000 Kong14e1n6s ade Hospitalsgade 3324 Søndergade Passa en v S gade Gr1ø5nn24ega13d6e2 Nørregade O Jensens Alle J Chr uliussens Vej Borgergade Åboulevarden Havnealle Niels 11000 7000 12636 Hestedams Hospitalsgade Søndergade Passa en v S gade Grønnegade Nørregade 2904O Jensens Alle J Chr uliussens Vej B2o90rger4 gade Åboulevarden Havnealle Niels 4000 10003000 57302640 2592 6000 5730 3324 2322 3492 2196 2160 2148 10000 6000 2904 2904 31261866 3000 2640 Loca�o0n2000 1416 1524 21359622 of 2014 Loca�on 5000 4476 2322 2196 2160 2148 9000 5000 4476 4254 1866 4254 Kongens ade Hestedams 1524 Passa en v S gade Grønnegade Nørregade O Jensens Alle J Chr uliussens Vej Borgergade Åboulevarden Havnealle Niels 2000 1416 4000 1000 3324 1362 1308 3492 8000 4000 14040 3324 3492 996 3172266 774 1000 2640 0 Søndergade2904 2904 3126 630 3000 2904 2322 2904 2592 7000 3000 2640 Loca�on Kongens ade Hestedams Hospitalsgade Søndergade 2592Grønn219ega6de2160 Nørr2e1g4a8de O Jensens Alle J Chr uliussens Vej 12636 2322 2196 2160 1866 2148 0 2000 57301416 1866 1524 1362 6000 2000 1416 1524 Kongens ade Hestedams Hospitalsgade Søndergade Passa en v S gade 1362Grønnegade Nørregade O Jensens Alle J Chr uliussens Vej 996 726 1000 996 726 774 It is obvious that COVID-19 and 5000 1000 4476 4254 Loca�on 630 504 420 57300 Borgergade 4000 0 Loca�o573n 0 3324 3492 Kongens ade Hestedams 2904 Passa en2 90v S4 gade Grønnegade Nørregade 31O26 Jensens Alle J Chr uliussens Vej Borgergade Åboulevarden Havnealle Niels the subsequent lock-downs 264K0onge44ns76ade Hestedams Hospitalsgade Søndergade Passa en v S gade Grønnegade Nørregade O Jensens Alle J Chr uliussens Vej Gyldings 3000 4254 2322 2592 4476 4254 2196 2160 2148 1866 3492 2000 1416 3324 1524 1362 3324 Loca�on 2904 2904 3492 3126 forcing children and all non- Lo2c6a4�o0 n 2904 2904 3126 2592 996 630 774 1000 2322 219625291260 2148 726 Havnealle 420 2322 219618621606 2148 0 1416 18165624 1362 essential workers to study 5730 1524 1362 996 Kongens ade Hestedams Hospitalsgade Søndergade Passa en v S gade Grønnegade Nørregade O Jensens Alle J Chr uliussens Vej 726 630 774 Gyldings Gade 996 726 774 420 630 420 and work from home impacts 4476 4254 Loca�on Kongens ade Hestedams 33Ho2s4pitalsgade Søndergade Passa en v S gade Grønnegade Nørregade O Jensens Alle J Chr uliussens Vej 349Bo2rgergade Åboulevarden Havnealle Niels Gyldings Gade Hestedams Hospitalsgade Søndergade Passa en v S gade2 904 Grønnegade Nørregade 2 904 J Chr uliussens Vej Borgergade 3126Åboulevarden Havnealle Niels Gyldings Gade 2640 2592 the flow of people in Danish 2322 2196 2160 2148 1866 1524 1362 996 Cities. But pedestrianized 726 630 774 shopping streets have been Kongens ade Hestedams Hospitalsgade Søndergade Passa en v S gade Grønnegade Nørregade O Jensens Alle J Chr uliussens Vej especially hard hit. This is exemplified best in Horsens and 2020 - Total number of pedestrians in the period 8-20 (brisk spring day, Friday Map comparing the pedestrian flow in Horsens in 2008, 2014 and 2020 2008 - total number of pedestrians in the period 8-22 (hot summer weekday) in Copenhagen. during COVID 19 2014 - total number of pedestrians in the period 8-22 (hot summer weekday) counting location

13 Gehl — Making Cities for People Micro-moments - Horsens

Lørdag den 4. april 2020 peak kl. 12 er 80% mindre end sommeweekend peak I 2014 Horsen gågade var næsten helt tom hele fredag! Micro-moments - Helsingør Helsingør weekend

Stengade – fødgængergade har Some cities, like liv i hverdag, men er meget mere aktiv i weekenden. Helsingør and Svendborg seem Main commericial street Søndergade to have been Horsens, April 4th 2020 less impacted.

Pedestrian flow along the main commericial shopping street is down 75% in Helsingør and 68% in Svendborg

Main commericial street Stengade, Helsingør, April 4th 2020

14 Gehl — Making Cities for People 1

Routines along pedestrian streets 3000 are similar, but exact 2014 weekend behaviours are 2000 2014 weekday

1000 different. Number of people

2008 200 COVID weekend 0 COVID weekly 7a 8a 9a 10a 11a 12p 1p 2p 3p 4p 5p 6p 7p 8p 9p More people still go to pedestrianized shopping streets on the weekend than the weekday. The Horsens peak times have shifted to be a bit Total amount of pedestrians on Søndergade ( main shopping street) later on the weekend in Horsens but stay basically the same on the weekday in Copenhagen

15 Gehl — Making Cities for People 2

Activities The city is being used more for recreation, play, and exercise. 2

We see a general increase of play, exercise and recreation in public space

Across all cities, we have seen a general % increase of either excercise or play activities. Horsens and Svendborg have had a re-distribution of percentages between Play and Exercise.

Copenhagen Horsens Svendborg P E

E E P E E P E P P Copenhagen. Before During Before During Before During April 3, 2020 17 Gehl — Making Cities for People Svendborg

• Meget mere aktiv leg og motion – fra næsten ingen i 2008 til 13% af alle aktivitet i 2020!

• Især i ”ny” steder som havnefrontetn hvor leg/motion er 17% af aktivitet

• men også meget mere rekreativ brug af urban byrum såsom torvet

2 Active rec - Exersice (all ages) 13% 11% Active rec - Play (all ages) Civic work +13% 13% Eating/ Drinking 27% Engaged in cultural activity exersise Engaged in commerce In conversation across the Places that invite 27% Passive recreation- observing city

distribution of activities across the recreation, play and city of Svenborg - during COVID exercise are being used the most. +17% exersise/play in the harbor

Much more some places 3% active play like the harbor Exercise 13% and exercise front where in Svenborg- excercise/ 0.2% from barely play is 17% of Play 5% registering in activity in 2020 2008 to 13% during COVID of all activity in 2020- especially in

People spending time in the harbor. Svenborg in 2008

18 Gehl — Making Cities for People 2

People are being resourceful and using places that are convenient for them, even if they aren’t full of exercise and play equipment

People have adapted existing don’t have exercise equipment offering of public spaces - This can be seen at Torvet in to fit their physical activity Svendborg and at Gammel Torv (recreation, play and exercise) in Copenhagen needs - even in places that

19 Gehl — Making Cities for People 3 Use of public space is has remained constant, while movements from A to B have decreased significantly. cafe/commercial si�ng standing play

Distribution of activity in main public Distribution of activity in main public 3 spaces in Svendborg 2008 spaces in Svendborg 2020

cafe

standing play 14% sitting sitting 33% As much activity and 20% cafe standing people spending time 50% in public space during

cafe/commercial si�ng standing play COVID as before. cafe/co0,2%mmercial si�ng65%standing play 10% 5% Play Cafe Seating Play Cafe Seating

But there is a substantial In Enghave Plads in redistribution of known Copenhagen, there is a similar 320 activities - in Svendborg people amount of activities before/ shifted from cafe seating to during COVID but 10x as much 280 standing, benches and exercise play and exercise

Total amount of activities Total amount of activities surveyed in major public surveyed in major public spaces in Svendborg spaces in Svendborg

Pedestrian flow Pedestrian flow 12 to 16.00 12 to 16.00 cafe/commercial si�ng 2008standing play 2020

21 Gehl — Making Cities for People During 16.00 weekday During April 3, 2020 3

Public space use hasn’t gone down as Stationary Flow much as the flow of 11p 164p

Before 16.00 Ratio of people spending time (68) to Ratioweekday of people spending time (11) to people moving 164/hour at 16:00 on April moving 922/hour on at 16:00 on Feb 3rd 2020 21 2019

Before Feb 21, 2019

In popular city center places like 20% of the flow (172ppl/hour Gammel Torv in Copenhagen vs 1006ppl/hour) but 50% of it is easy to see that the vitality the staying activity during peak of public space has decreased, times but not nearly as much as the amount of pedestrian traffic Data Source: Pedestrian Counts, JC Decaux

Stationary Flow 68p 922p

22 Gehl — Making Cities for People 4 Local places that already offer a public activity are even more popular than before. 4 Local places that already offer a public activity (such as a playground) are even more popular than before

Number of Activities Before and During

140

120

Well-designed local destinations such as Enghave Plads, 100 Superkilen, and Sundbyøster plads all see more activity on the weekend during COVID, than 80 they did in the fall of 2019

Number of records of Number 60

People spending time at Sundbyøster plads throughout the day. 40

before during COVID 20

0 6 8 10 12 14 16 18

Hour of Collected 24 Gehl — Making Cities for People Weekend Enghave Plads Weekend Superkilen 4 Number of Activities - Before & During Number of Activities - Before & During

2000 100 Some places 1800 90 1600 80

are being used 1400 70 more during 1200 60

1000 50

COVID19 Records of Number

40 800

600 30

400 20

200 10

0 0

6 8 10 12 14 16 18 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 Hour of Collected Hour of Collected

Comparative pattern of use for people spending time Comparative pattern of use for people spending time in Enghaveplads Plads in Copenhagen before (Sept, in SuperKilen in Copenhagen before (Sept, 2019) and 2019) and during COVID (April, 2020) during COVID (April, 2020)

before before during COVID during COVID

25 Gehl — Making Cities for People 4

Twice more activity at the plaza! People prefer to stay in their neighbourhood, local places have Several local an increasing improtance destinations see increased use during COVID

Sundbyøster Plads in Copenhagen has twice as much activity on the weekend in April 2020 in comparison to a December weekend day in 2019.

Same flow of people More age diversity Key: on Amagerbrogade in people using the Later peak time - public space New activity during COVID 14.00, 17.00 Activity, which remained the same

Activity not present during COVID

Different age group

26 Gehl — Making Cities for People 4

Proportion between weekend and weekday is the same, but peak and daily activity is different.

At Enghave Plads, 300 there is nearly the same amount of people spending time but with a 200 morning and afternoon peak. But during COVID the morning peak is 100 Number of Records of Number much smaller, while the afternoon peak is more intense and lasts longer. 0 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 Hour of Collected

Number of activities at Enghave Plads throughout the before day before (sept 2019) and during COVID (April 2020) during COVID

Enghave Plads, April 3, 2020 27 Gehl — Making Cities for People 5 Victims of their own success: popular places make distancing rules difficult to follow. 5

People adhere to physical distaning rules, but successful public places make physical distancing difficult to implement.

Sønderboulevard, Vesterbro, April 3, 2020 29 Gehl — Making Cities for People Some local places are becoming to full and it is harder 5 for people not to cluster in larger groups and keep distance Social norms around physical distancing are still evolving in popular local places

Police enforcing crowding rules at Sundbyøster plads in Copenhagen POLITI

30 Gehl — Making Cities for People 5

Invitations to keep a good physical distance, (2m space deliniation), are effective in distributing people.

The simple addition of markings separated by 2m help people understand how to keep a safe distance while queing.

Stengade, Helsingør 31 Gehl — Making Cities for People 5

When people’s senses are peaked, they quickly forget healthy distancing and revert to natural human distancing tendencies .

Physical distancing rules are more difficult to follow in more spontaneous situations like looking at flowers to buy. Social distancing is forgotten in spontaneous moments.

Helsingør April 3, 2020

32 Gehl — Making Cities for People 6 The search for essential outdoor and climatic human needs has become even more valuable 6

Fresh air, water, sunlight, are as important as they always have been - if not more so!

This is reflected on how people are using meeting places and the types of public spaces they are willing to go to.

Islands Brygge, April 3, 2020 34 Gehl — Making Cities for People 6

Despite the pandemic, humans are still humans: places that invite for sensory experiences and good climatic conditions continue to be the most sought after.

Ørsteds Park, April 3, 2020 35 Gehl — Making Cities for People 7 New activities and forms of urban life are emerging - public spaces are being used like never before! 7

New forms of public life are emerging in the city - public spaces are being used like never before

Number of activities at Gammel Torv throughout the day before (sept 2019) and during COVID (April 2020)

Stationary Flow before 70 during COVID

Number of Records of Number 20

10 0 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Hour of Collected Gammel Torv, April 3, 2020 37 Gehl — Making Cities for People 7

New types of spaces provide new opportunities for people to Bicycle Groups People practicing their instruments appropiate them

Skating on Strøget, BMX on Rådhuspladsen, and senior exercise classes on amager are all new activities.

Squares turned into Skateparks Plaza turned into Concert Hall

38 Gehl — Making Cities for People 8 More children and older people are using the city’s space than before. 9

There are more kids 1% 10% 10% and elderly people 15% in public spaces than before.

People spending time in A larger percentage of Vesterbro Torv is down to 80% 5-14 before (1%, 6 observed of the stationary activity when people), after (10%, 9 Vesterbro Torv Vesterbro Torv compared to a weekend before observations) COVID19. There is a similar 65+ before (10%, 53 observed Before COVID 19 During COVID 19 percent distribution of activity people), after (15%, 14 Stationary Activity Age Stationary Activity Age (main activites are still eating/ observations) drinking, in conversation, using Age 5-14 Age 5-14 electronics) Age 65+ Age 65+

40 Gehl — Making Cities for People ! Active elderly are still 9 visible in public life

Usergroup behaviours in public spaces ! Men tend to be in – a diversity of groups of 4 or more experiences for a diversity of groups

! New behaviors aren’t always social - like solo yoga at the harbor in Helsingør

41 Gehl — Making Cities for People 9 Women tend to use public space differently than men. 9

In some cases, we observed more female Males: Alone or in than men, especially groups of 4+ in pairs. Men tend be alone or in mixed groups of 4+.

Graphs showing gender distribution for a Female stationary activity survey throughout three Male Females: public spaces Usually in pairs

Gender Distribution Gender Distribution Gender Distribution Assistens Kirkegard Kings Garden Amastrand

59% 55% 57%

43 Gehl — Making Cities for People Man Women Man Women Women Individual Pairs Individual Pairs Pairs

44 Gehl — Making Cities for People Perceived Age - Before & During Perceived Gender- Before & During 9 15-24 age group Proportion of perceived male gender Before 9.89 % Before 42.76%

During 51.32% During 51.32% 54.28 %

0 50 50 150 200 250 0 50 100 150 Usergroup behaviours in public spaces Number of Activities- Before & During Activity- Before & During In conversation

70 – a diversity of Before 20.85% During 51.32% 38.46 % 60 experiences for a Using Electronics

50 diversity of groups Before 20.85% During 20.85%

40 0 20 40 60 80 100

! 30 Number of Records of Number Same amount of activity – but Gammel Torv more in the early part of the day. Comparison 20 Weekday. Many more teenagers - Much Fall 2019 - April 3 2020 more male than before. 10 Key: More social – much more During COVID19 conversation and less using 0 Before COVID19 electronics 6 8 10 12 14 16 18

45 Gehl — Making Cities for People 10 Vehicular traffic has decreased while walking and cycling are the most resilient. - 90% reduction of pedestrian flow on Strøget in the first Copenhagen City days of the lockdown Center has seen a dramatic drop of pedestrian activity

Copenhagen City Center which as the lock-down was enforced

usually attracts residents and stabilized at a 80% fewer Rådhuspladsen during COVID 19 from across the city as well as pedestrians in early april in tourists has seen a dramatic comparison to footfall through drop in use. City’s main walking the square in January and street saw a 90% reduction just february of the same year

65k

60k

55k March 16 52,392 51,284 March 11

50k 45,378 44,193 45k

40k

35k

30k

25k 29,029 23,929 20,710 20k 23,090 15,268 15k 12,777 14,246

10k 10,363

5k 7,850 6,025

0 Saturday Wednesday Sunday Thursday Monday Friday Tuesday Saturday Wednesday Sunday Thursday Monday Friday Tuesday Saturday 15/02 19/02 23/02 27/02 02/03 06/03 10/03 14/03 18/03 22/03 26/03 30/03 03/04 07/04 11/04

Data is from Springboard Rådhuspladsen before COVID 19

47 Gehl — Making Cities for People 10

+21% Pedestrian -16% Movement Pedestrian Norrebrogade Movement Overall mobility Dronning Louise´s Bro has decreased, but pedestrian movement -65% Pedestrian Movement Gothersgade is increasing in -80% Pedestrian Movement neighborhoods outside Strøget -29% -18% of the city center. Pedestrian Pedestrian Movement Movement Enghavevej Istedgade

+15% Pedestrian Movement Pedestrian movement Amagerbrogade decreases the most in the city center, is closer to “normal” at the periphery of the center, and increased in adjacent neighborhoods.

48 Gehl — Making Cities for People 10

Enghavevej Istedgade - Walking and cycling Total Pedestrians from 14-18 on a weekday Total Pedestrians from 14-18 on a weekday

7000 6000

6000 have become 5000

5000 4000 essential forms of 4000 3000 3000 mobility. 2000 2000

1000 1000

0 0 Weekday Weekday Weekday Weekday Before COVID19 After COVID19 Before COVID19 After COVID19

A more nuanced look and Graphs to the right show a minor decrease in total pedestrian flow in important mobility granular on the ground data corridors. collection shows that main neighborhood streets (like Enghavevej and Istedgade) prove to be essential for the development of a community. Mobility corridors have gained importance especially for pedestrian and cyclists.

49 Gehl — Making Cities for People Pedestrian Movement: 600 10 Amagerbrogade

During COVID19 500

Before COVID19 High level data Apple Data 400

300 doesn’t tell the Apple’s Data whole story. 200

100

0 High level data completely Apple data shows a 43% drop in 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 misses what we documented pedestrian activity across the Time of Day on Amagerbrogade, a street city, but the change on these 5km from the City center. streets is only (29% Enghavevej, Here pedestrian traffic was and 19% Istedgade) - see Graphs Total Pedestrian Movement: consistently higher throughout of total pedestrian flow. Amagerbrogade 8-17 the day and 15% higher than pre COVID times (late fall of 2019). 4000 3500 3750

3000 Method: 3258 Apple’s mobility data gives an create a comparable baseline. 2500 overview of the major mobility This baseline is represened Apple’s Data 2000 trends for Copenhagen. In order by the dashed-line in both to compare Gehl’s data with pedestrian movement graphs. 1500

Apple’s, we have reduced the 1000 pedestrian activity we recorded Source: https://www.apple.com/ in the fall of 2019 by 43% to covid19/mobility 500

0 Before COVID19 During COVID19

50 Gehl — Making Cities for People Snapshots

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6 7 8 9 10

The search for New activities and More children and Women use public Overall mobility essential outdoor forms of urban life older people are space differently has decreased, and climatic human are emerging in using the city’s than men. but pedestrian needs has become many cities space than before. movement is more valuable increasing outside of the city centre.

51 Gehl — Making Cities for People 10 Questions

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Which street types, Why are people How are people What public space What happens when features, and their adopting the use of using the city for typologies have the life is much more local programming are places , schedules, and other things than largest impact for and how is activity more conducive to the timings that they before? quality of life, and why across the city changing COVID - Public Life do? What could be the are people spreading perceptions of people’s needs and why? transition to the post to new corners of their neighbourhoods? COVID19? neighbourhoods?

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How might we design How can we design for What new types of What is the role of How might COVID-19 for physical distancing the sensory and plan meeting places will be spatial typologies, redefine mobility so that we can for access to fresh air, needed in the future social conditions and priorities and responsibly take part water, sunlight and - eating, playing, and built form, for different how we evaluate in public life across nature? exercising? users groups? equitable access and cities in a healthy, essential travel? comfortable way?

52 Gehl — Making Cities for People Acknowledgements: The Studies have been planned and coordinated by Gehl and executed by a combination of Gehl staff, collaborative partners, City staff and paid surveyors. This work is conducted with support from the philanthropic association Realdania and Municipality of Copenhagen.

53 Gehl — Making Cities for People