Foot traffic around major transport hubs in the City of Melbourne increased significantly this morning, as workers continue to return to the city.
The City of Melbourne operates a network of more than 60 pedestrian sensors across the city.
The sensors are installed under awnings and on light poles and count pedestrian traffic on the footpath below.
Today the sensors outside Flinders Street Station and Southern Cross Station recorded the highest pedestrian count for the AM peak period since April 2020.
Between 8am and 9am the sensors recorded:
- Flinders St Station Underpass: 1285 pedestrians. Pedestrian activity was up by 106% when compared to the average Tuesday am peak period for the first three weeks of December 2020.
- Southern Cross Station sensor on Collins St: 863 pedestrians. Pedestrian activity was up by 267% when compared to the average Tuesday am peak period for the first three weeks of December 2020.
While there appears to have been a recent increase in commuter traffic to the city, average pedestrian activity across all the sensors in the city is still down significantly when compared to pre-COVID numbers.
Attributable to Lord Mayor Sally Capp:
"I welcome the Premier's announcement that 75 per cent of workers - both public and private - can return to the office from Monday," the Lord Mayor said.
"Bringing city workers back to the office will be critical for our economic revival. More people in the city means more money coming into local businesses, which keeps Melburnians in jobs.
"Our economic recovery has started but it needs coordinated and consistent support to ensure we bounce back as quickly as possible."
