Photo: WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Cities are known for their walkable streets which help keep pedestrians on the move, but a recent study last month found that people are stepping up their pace.
Researchers from MIT found that Boston is among three major cities where pedestrians increased their walking speed by 15% from 1980 to 2010.
City-goers, like Stephanie who works in Boston, have their reasons behind rushing to-and-from destinations.
“I have a special needs son – we don't really go out much at all,” she said. “If I'm out, I'm just going to a specific place and coming right back.”
The study used artificial intelligence and computer vision to analyze both historical and video footage. While the pace of people’s steps has gone up, the findings show another trend experienced a downward shift.
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The number of people – including pedestrians from New York and Philadelphia – have cut in half their time spent lingering in these spaces over those three decades, according to the findings.
Vanessa, who is a Boston resident, said she believes the city's infrastructure is less inviting to help “business boom,” and that could explain why people prefer to stay on the move.
MIT researchers said public spaces foster social engagement, and the lack of interactions in these urban spots highlights societal shifts.
Arianna Salazar Miranda, an urban planner and data scientist, told MIT News, “The more we can keep improving public space, the more we can make our cities suited for convening.”
WBZ NewsRadio’s James Rojas (@JamesRojasMMJ) reports.