Urban life has been characterized by its rapid pace, and recent research provides concrete evidence of this trend. A study conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology indicates that pedestrians in three prominent northeastern U.S. cities—Boston, New York, and Philadelphia—are walking 15 percent faster than they did in 1980. Additionally, the research highlights a notable decrease in the amount of time people spend in public spaces, with a 14 percent reduction observed over the past thirty years.
Arianna Salazar-Miranda, an assistant professor at Yale University and co-author of the study, explained to Newsweek that these findings imply a transformation in the way individuals utilize public spaces. She remarked, “One interpretation is that public social life is weakening. The reasons for this shift are likely multifaceted—rising opportunity costs of time and the allure of indoor spaces like cafés—but the outcome seems to be less social interaction occurring in open areas.”
This phenomenon has significant implications, as public spaces such as sidewalks and plazas have traditionally served as venues for social mixing. Salazar-Miranda cautioned that when these areas function more as thoroughfares than as gathering places, the risk of losing their integrative role increases. This shift can adversely affect social cohesion and diminish the opportunities for informal encounters that foster creativity and community engagement.
Ruth Conroy Dalton, a professor of architecture at Northumbria University in the U.K., added her insights regarding the study”s implications. She noted, “An increase in walking speed shortens the average street journey by approximately 13 percent, leading to fewer moments for passerby interactions, eye contact, or simply “being present”.” Carlo Ratti, a professor at MIT and co-author of the study, emphasized that the dynamics of public spaces are evolving, stating, “What we”re observing is that public areas are functioning increasingly as thoroughfares rather than as spaces for encounter.”
In this study, the researchers leveraged machine learning techniques to analyze video footage captured by urbanist William Whyte between 1978 and 1980 in New York City. These recordings showcased well-known public spaces like Bryant Park and the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. A team led by sociologist Keith Hampton recreated Whyte”s filming conditions in 2010, capturing updated footage from the same locations at the same times of day.
Ratti highlighted the importance of embracing experimentation in urban design, suggesting that cities should explore different configurations to enhance human connection. He pointed out that the advancement of AI and digital tools enables researchers to analyze vast quantities of footage swiftly, allowing for a deeper understanding of how people move and interact in public settings.
Among the notable findings was a decline in the number of individuals who joined groups upon entering public spaces. In 1980, 5.5 percent of people ended up socializing in groups, a figure that plummeted to just 2 percent by 2010. The researchers attribute this shift to multiple factors, including the proliferation of smartphones, which allow for digital coordination of social plans prior to venturing outdoors. As a result, social interactions that once occurred spontaneously on the streets are now often orchestrated through text messages or group chats.
Ratti remarked, “When examining the footage from William Whyte, it is evident that people in public spaces were more inclined to engage with one another. These areas were conducive to initiating conversations or encountering friends, which was not possible online during that time.” The researchers aim for their findings to inform how cities design and redesign public areas, especially as digital polarization continues to reshape real-life connections.
Salazar-Miranda emphasized, “Public space is a vital component of civic life. The more we can enhance public spaces, the more we can create cities that facilitate gatherings.”
