Does perceived proximity to urban facilities still matter to individuals' daily activities in the information age?

Abstract

An easy access to urban facilities is often assumed as a precondition for frequent uses of these facilities nearby, thus promoting urban vitality and the sustainable mobility transition. However, with increasing popularity of online activities, people have been considerably reducing their dependence on urban facilities in daily life. In this sense, an important question emerges – is perceived proximity to urban facilities still relevant to people's daily activities in the information age? Using data from a nationwide survey with 7209 valid respondents in 81 Chinese cities, this study aims to answer this question. The results indicate that frequent online shopping and food ordering significantly moderates how perceived proximity to stores and restaurants promotes onsite visits, while frequent online entertainment does not. Therefore, the benefits of improving perceived proximity to urban facilities, shopping facilities and restaurants in particular, are diminishing, considering that the popularity of online activities is expected to continuously increase in the coming years.