Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic of 2020 drastically changed urban lifestyles. Workers were forced to minimize commuting to their workplaces, older adults were banned from using meeting facilities, and children were prohibited from going to school. The consequent lack of exercise, accumulated stress, and reduced well-being are likely to have become problems, which may be improved by using urban green spaces (UGS). This study clarified the characteristics of users of UGS in Tokyo during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on telecommuters, older adults, and families with children. An online questionnaire survey was conducted among Tokyo residents, and 3085 responses were obtained. A binomial logistic regression analysis was conducted with the use and evaluation of UGS as the objective variables. The results showed that older adults and families with children who had been using UGS before the pandemic and telecommuters who newly started using UGS during the pandemic used UGS differently. Older adults and families with children tended to use small parks and appreciated human connections. Telecommuters often used greenways, temples, and shrines, valuing stress-reducing functions. Given that a changing lifestyle brings new UGS users new preferences, urban planners should consider that UGS require change with the time.
Highlights
The explanatory variables generated from the personal attributes of the 3085 respondents revealed that telecommuters, older adults, and families with children made up 37%, 23%, and 14% of the respondents, respectively
The results showed that telecommuters, older adults, and families with children commonly used large parks, greenways, and urban forests significantly more (Models 2B–D)
The results showed that telecommuters, older adults, and families with children were significantly more likely to use urban green spaces (UGS)
Summary
On 30 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared an international public health emergency due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic [1]. Governments around the world implemented quarantine measures to minimize the chances of human-to-human contact [2]. Workers who commuted to the central business district almost every day were strongly urged to switch to telecommuting. Most public meeting facilities frequented by older adults, and schools attended by children were temporarily closed. With the exception of essential workers, city dwellers were forced to stay home, regardless of their lifestyle. In cities around the world, lifestyles changed drastically
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
