15-minute cities are an urban planning concept that seeks to make a city’s amenities and services accessible within a 15-minute walk or bike ride from every resident. This concept is based on the idea that cities should offer their residents more self-sufficient, healthy, and equitable lifestyles.
The idea of the 15-minute city originated in France in 2016 when Paris Professor Carlos Moreno proposed this urban planning philosophy as part of an urban theory and an urban model. The aim was to reduce car use, improve public transport options, shorten commuting times, reduce air pollution, increase green spaces, reduce noise levels and create healthier living conditions for citizens. Since then, many other cities worldwide have adopted this concept, including Melbourne, Los Angeles, Barcelona, and Tokyo.
How It Works
The 15-minute city works by organizing a city’s services so that everything essential to everyday life is located within 15 minutes of walking or biking from each resident’s home. This includes shops, parks, schools, and medical facilities. It also encourages the use of public transportation and active travel as opposed to private cars for commuting. To make this possible, cities generally have to create more walkable streets with shorter distances between points of interest; increase access to public transport and bicycle infrastructure; improve housing density; develop green spaces; reduce traffic levels; incorporate businesses into residential areas; etc.
The 15-minute city model is different from similar urban planning models in several ways. Firstly, it emphasizes the idea of living within a smaller area with greater self-sufficiency and reducing the need to travel long distances for daily necessities. This differs from other ideas such as smart cities which aim to improve efficiency and quality of life by collecting data about citizens’ movements, purchasing habits, and preferences. This concept focuses on giving residents access to essential services instead of just leisure activities like parks or entertainment centers. The model puts an emphasis on creating a more equitable environment by providing increased access to amenities for all citizens regardless of their economic status. The overall goal is to make cities more sustainable and increase residents’ quality of life.
Which Cities are Implementing It?
Currently, some cities like Bogota, Seattle and Milan are implementing this concept in various ways. In Tokyo, for example, the city is developing a 15-minute living zone by providing more walkable streets and bike paths; increasing access to public transportation; developing green spaces; and decentralizing commercial areas. In Los Angeles, the 15-minute city concept is being implemented by introducing more dedicated bus lanes and reducing car traffic levels in some neighborhoods.
The 15-minute city concept has several advantages. It can help improve air quality; reduce noise levels; increase access to essential services for all citizens regardless of income level or social class; reduce dependence on private cars for getting around; promote healthy lifestyles through active travel such as walking and biking; create more shared public spaces where people can interact with each other outside of their homes, etc.
At the same time, however, this concept has some drawbacks. One of these is that it can be costly to implement as it requires significant investment in infrastructure and other services. Another is that it can create further segregation if not properly planned, as wealthier people tend to have better access to public transport or bike paths than those from poorer areas. Finally, 15-minute cities are inherently unstable; even if they succeed initially, they may not last very long.
Final Thoughts
The 15-minute city concept is an innovative urban planning philosophy that seeks to improve the quality of life for citizens by making essential amenities and services more accessible within a 15-minute walk or bike ride from home. While this concept has the potential to improve air quality, reduce noise levels, and create healthier lifestyles for citizens, it is not without its drawbacks; implementation can be expensive, and there are risks of creating further segregation if not properly planned. Ultimately, cities should consider the pros and cons of this concept before deciding whether or not to implement it.
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