Pedestrian sensors in the city recorded a week-on-week uptick, with activity at the Bourke St Bridge – a thoroughfare for workers in the Docklands district – increasing by 96 per cent on the week prior.On Thursday, pedestrians near the Southern Cross Station sensor climbed 52 per cent on the previous Thursday, while Flinders Street Station underpass had recorded a jump in peak-hour activity.Between Monday and Friday, movement between 7am and 9am fluctuated 15 to 30 per cent higher than the equivalent day in the previous week, with Wednesday the most popular day on the network.Public transport patronage increased with 4,587,000 total trips across the network on the first four days of the working week – about 50 per cent of the pre-Covid baseline.About 418,000 train trips were made on Monday, rising to 476,000 on Wednesday and 493,000 on Thursday, in sign most workers are electing to work onsite midweek. It was the first week since the Andrews government lifted its work-from-home recommendation, with public servants expected to return onsite at least three days a week.Since Victoria’s sixth lockdown ended in October, occupancy rates for shop fronts in the city have continued to steadily rise from 39 per cent at that point to 78 per cent this month.But the figures come on the heels of predictions the CBD may never return to its full potential.Premier Daniel Andrews tipped that just 60 per cent of workers would return.His comment sparked backlash from industry bodies and Lord Mayor Sally Capp, who said getting workers back to the city was vital for Melbourne’s economic recovery.Ms Capp said the City of Melbourne knew that people’s commute needed to be earnt.“We want people to be pounding the city pavement and capitalising on the incredible business and entertainment offers that cannot be accessed anywhere else in Australia,” she said.Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra said it had been “so good” to see city footpaths busier but acknowledged more needed to be done.“The trains and trams were fuller and there were people spilling out of coffee shops, sushi and sandwich places all over the city,” Mr Guerra said.“There is still a long way to go but this week was a great start. The city felt more energised as people made their way back.”
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