The 15-minute city is an urban planning concept where essential amenities and services are within a 15-minute walk, bike ride, or public transit trip from any point in the city. It aims to reduce car dependency, improve quality of life, revitalize neighborhoods, promote healthier lifestyles, and foster a sense of community. The concept gained traction during the COVID-19 pandemic as cities sought to build more resilient and sustainable communities.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo quickly became one of the most prominent champions of the 15-minute city. The idea was a centrepiece of her successful 2020 reelection campaign. During the Covid19 crisis, the concept gained more momentum. Further resources: FT article df
Article in Citi Monitor depicting history & featuring relevant numbers Article in the Financial Times
The 15-minute city is an urban planning concept where most daily necessities and services, such as work, shopping, education, healthcare, and leisure, can be easily reached within a 15-minute walk, bike ride, or public transit trip from any point in the city[4]. The key goals of this approach are to:
- Reduce car dependency and promote more sustainable modes of transportation like walking and cycling[1][3]
- Improve quality of life and well-being for residents by providing convenient access to essential amenities[2][4]
- Revitalize neighborhoods and support the local economy[1][5]
- Promote healthier lifestyles through increased physical activity[1][2]
- Foster a greater sense of community and social interaction at the local level[1][5]
Implementing a 15-minute city requires rethinking traditional zoning and creating mixed-use, compact, walkable neighborhoods with a diverse range of housing, businesses, public spaces, and services[1][4]. It also involves improving pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, and ensuring reliable public transit connections to the wider city[3][5].
While the specific term was popularized recently by Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, the underlying principles build upon earlier planning concepts like Clarence Perry's neighborhood unit and New Urbanism[1][4]. The 15-minute city has gained significant traction in the wake of COVID-19, with many cities around the world now looking to adopt this model to build more resilient, sustainable, and livable communities[2][3][4].
Citations: [1] https://www.cnu.org/publicsquare/2021/02/08/defining-15-minute-city [2] https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-27/the-15-minute-city-conspiracy/102015446 [3] https://www.dw.com/en/15-minute-cities-what-are-they-and-how-do-they-work/a-64907776 [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/15-minute_city [5] https://www.burohappold.com/articles/15-minute-cities/ [6] https://www.15minutecity.com [7] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-10-03/15-minute-cities-what-are-they-and-why-are-they-controversial [8] https://www.deloitte.com/an/en/Industries/government-public/perspectives/urban-future-with-a-purpose/15-minute-city.html