Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused decreased physical activity levels due to isolation, travel restrictions, and facility closure. This meant that walking remained the main option for individuals to sustain their physical well-being and mental health. This study examines changes in walking behaviour during the early years of the pandemic, and how such changes were affected by the built environment characteristics of Melbourne neighbourhoods over the period of lockdowns in 2020. By evaluating the impact of built environment characteristics on leisure walking patterns during the 2020 lockdowns, we provide insights into the interplay between the built environment and physical activity. We found that self-reported leisure walking decreased notably during the COVID-19 restrictions. The influence of the built environment on leisure walking remained consistent throughout the pandemic stages. Factors such as green space, residential density, and land-use diversity demonstrated associations with leisure walking. The presence of more green spaces was linked to higher rates of walking, while moderate residential density was associated with the highest walking rates. Surprisingly, more diverse locations showed lower levels of walking, potentially due to pandemic-related closures of non-essential businesses or limited access to green spaces in these areas. These findings emphasize the importance of considering built environment characteristics in promoting and maintaining physical activity levels, even during times of restricted movement.