The migration of people from rural regions to cities is often described as one of the most significant population trends of modern times. The UN’s estimates predict that by 2050, almost 70 percent of the world’s population will reside in urban areas, highlighting an urgent need for more sustainable urban development. A newly emerging concept referred to as 15-minute cities provides a viable solution based on a framework of hyper-proximity, offering a fresh take on existing urban and mobility planning paradigms. Carlos Moreno, an associate professor at the Sorbonne University in Paris was initially credited with introducing the concept, although the idea rose to prominence during Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo’s re-election campaign in 2020. The notion of 15-minute cities presents a novel perspective of “chrono-urbanism” that many believe will become fundamental in creating safer, more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive communities, as highlighted in the 11th Sustainable Development Goal provided by the United Nations. In this article, we’ll discuss what 15-minute cities represent, their role in the future of urban development, and their potential to reshape the mobility landscape. We’ll also review real-time examples of cities already implementing this model and what we can learn from them.
15-Minute Cities: A Holistic Approach To Urban Planning
The 15-minute city model proposes a framework for urban development that challenges existing mobility systems along with urban morphology to encourage more sustainable mobility choices, in combination with the reorganization and redistribution of urban space. Moreno’s initial idea stems from his desire to create a human-centric environment that could better accommodate the needs of communities in a way that encourages more climate-neutral, livable, and inclusive cities. According to his vision, the 15-minute city is an attempt to reconcile the city with the humans that live in it by addressing the challenges we face as city dwellers. Such an approach to urban planning contradicts the traditional city model, where long commutes, traffic congestion, and fragmented neighborhoods are often common disadvantages. The main idea behind the 15-minute model is to create complete neighborhoods where residents can cover the vast majority of their daily needs such as housing, work, food, health, education, and leisure, within a 15-minute radius. It’s believed that through this we could eliminate the need to travel long distances along with our reliance on cars by facilitating easy access to essential services and amenities, fostering a more sustainable, interconnected urban environment that is community-orientated.
It’s widely thought that by redesigning urban areas and turning them into self-sufficient hubs, 15-minute cities could contribute to the creation of vibrant and inclusive communities. Neighborhoods can become more walkable, allowing residents to engage in spontaneous interactions, strengthening social connections, and building a sense of belonging. Incorporating additional shared public spaces, community gardens, and local markets will further aid in establishing lively gathering spots, encouraging civic engagement, and promoting cultural diversity. Embracing the 15-minute city model could result in a variety of benefits for communities such as a higher quality of life, along with improved accessibility and inclusivity for residents regardless of their social, and economic status or age. Furthermore, by encouraging the establishment of diverse businesses, both large and small, 15-minute cities could also play a vital role in invigorating local economies. Residents could conveniently access a diverse range of goods and services in their local areas, which will support job creation, and regional entrepreneurship, facilitating a more equitable distribution of economic opportunities and contributing to the overall resilience of the urban regions.
The Role Of 15-minute Cities In Reshaping The Mobility Landscape
Car-centric cities present a number of challenges for city officials and urban planners. From an environmental standpoint, they contribute significantly to the air pollution we see in cities today along with aiding in the increase of greenhouse gas emissions, both of which exacerbate climate change and affect air quality. This has a direct impact on public health since increased pollution levels lead to respiratory problems and the sedentary lifestyle associated with excessive car use is linked to obesity and other health-related issues. A recent literature review examined over 500 studies from around the world and found that car crashes and fatalities linked to car-related air pollution result in over 1.67 million human casualties each year, meaning that cars are directly responsible for at least one in every 34 deaths around the world. Furthermore, the lack of safe pedestrian pathways and crossings in many car-dominated environments poses even more challenges for commuters, making the roads dangerous for everyone including those who are unable to drive. The heavy reliance on automobiles that predominates car-centric cities is also responsible for perpetuating socioeconomic disparities. Members of society who cannot afford to own a car, including lower-income residents, the elderly, and the young, face significant issues regarding accessibility. This restricts them from accessing essential services, employment opportunities, and social activities needed to sustain a good quality of life.
The 15-minute city model has been looked at as a viable alternative to car-centric neighborhoods as it enables residents to access the majority of their daily amenities within a proximity range of a 15 to 20-minute walk, bike ride, or a trip made using public transport. This kind of concept integrates transportation planning, urban design, and policy-making to create more walkable neighborhoods that prioritize road safety, allowing residents to experience more freedom of mobility and increased opportunity. A notable hallmark of the 15-minute city is its promotion of sustainable transportation. By emphasizing greener, more eco-friendly transport options such as walking, cycling, and micromobility, cities can reduce car dependency, cut back on carbon emissions, and alleviate issues such as traffic congestion. Shifting to walking and cycling alone has been shown to reduce emissions drastically and is among the quickest and most efficient ways to decarbonize the transport sector. This can be further reinforced by investment in public transportation and the expansion of networks and infrastructure which will become the lifeblood of such neighborhoods.
Public transit stations will serve as an essential component of 15-minute cities, connecting each sector of these neighborhoods along with facilitating access to and from more distant locations. While the idea is that residents of 15-minute cities shouldn’t have to travel far to meet their basicaily needs, it’s also equally as important to provide transport connections to the rest of the city and outer regions. This ensures that the mobility needs of all members of these communities are met, specifically regarding their requirements for longer commutes, social trips, and other cross-city travel. Once active mobility modes such as cycling and other micromobility options are successfully integrated with public transportation, cities could improve the efficiency of public transit systems, providing adequate mobility to residents and securing the supplementation of riders’ needs for first/last mile connections. Many countries are also increasing their investment in various mobility solutions — including innovation in public transport services and vehicles, infrastructure that enhances multimodality, digital technologies, and mobile ticketing. Cities such as Zaragoza in Spain provide an interesting glimpse into what the future of transit will look like after sharing plans to replace entire bus fleets with new types of electric vehicles that combine the advantages of street cars but with the flexibility of a bus. These vehicles will prioritize comfort and safety for passengers, with electric bus fleets being equipped with a safety system that detects vulnerable road users close to the vehicle. Montpellier is another example, having piloted an experimental project to develop new digital services for the French city, consisting of an open mobility dashboard project. The project aims to address the city’s mobility needs with an innovative analytics solution that examines public transport data to support data-based decisions for future service improvements.
Active mobility has a lot of untapped potential that if implemented correctly through careful planning and the incorporation of safe infrastructure, could bring numerous economic, environmental, health, and social benefits to every community. In most urban areas, over 50% of trips taken daily are thought to be under 10 kilometers, which are distances that could be easily walked or cycled. Yet many cities and countries tend to overlook the crucial role of walking and cycling in their transportation systems and the numerous benefits they could bring to their communities. Cities such as Paris and Melbourne have greatly embraced the 15-minute model, as a result of which they were able to achieve a tangible decline in vehicular pollution along with an improvement in overall air quality. Additionally, higher rates of active mobility have been shown to improve connectivity to other modes, along with reducing traffic and parking congestion. Citizens can enjoy shorter commute times, and more reliable services while public transport providers can benefit from an increase in ridership over time. The United States is home to some of the most congested cities in the world. Data shows that the average U.S. driver lost 42 hours to traffic congestion in 2023 which is the equivalent of a full week of work, resulting in around $733 worth of time lost.
How Municipalities Across The World Are Building Complete Neighborhoods
The 15-Minute City concept has been partially implemented in various parts of the world today, although the model tends to look different in each country. Countries such as France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, and the U.S. have adopted elements of this urban planning model in an attempt to tackle issues such as bad air quality and congestion while making their cities more enjoyable places to live. One of the most prominent examples of a 15-minute city is Paris, where Mayor Anne Hidalgo made it her primary goal to prioritize active transport in the capital after being elected in 2014. Since then she has created hundreds of kilometers of new bicycle lanes that stretch throughout the city along with closing major areas around the Seine river banks, making them inaccessible to cars. It’s estimated that this has successfully removed over 73,000 car trips from the area. Additionally, two of the city’s plazas, Place de la République and Place de la Bastille went through a major change in design in order to prioritize pedestrians and cyclists. The results were deemed a success according to the UN as the city has managed to cut its carbon emissions by 20% for the period between 2004 and 2018.
Other European cities that have had success in implementing the 15-minute city model include Barcelona with its “Superblocks” initiative that is reshaping the urban landscape as we know it. The purpose of this innovative urban planning strategy is to introduce a cluster of mini-neighborhoods where pedestrians and community spaces take precedence over cars. The project was introduced in the Poblenou neighborhood and has since yielded a remarkable 31% increase in ground-level commercial establishments, underlining its positive impact on local businesses. Milan has also emerged as a key player in the adoption of the 15-minute city concept. The Italian city has announced an ambitious plan to transform key areas in town as a way to reduce car dependency and promote more cycling and walking options. Current initiatives involve the conversion of busy streets to pedestrian and cyclist-friendly zones, in combination with the addition of a 30 km/h speed limit on 60% of the road network. Denmark’s capital is another sterling example of a city that’s committed to sustainable urban living. Copenhagen has adopted several 15-minute city principles that are evident through its focus on compact city design, mixed-use neighborhoods, and a comprehensive network of bike lanes. The city is often named one of the world’s most walkable cities due to its wide sidewalks, dedicated cycling lanes, and inclusive pedestrian-only zones.
When it comes to the United States, Portland, Oregon, stands at the forefront of urban planning, having introduced a transformational strategy as part of its Comprehensive Plan. The city aims to develop “complete neighborhoods,” where most of the residents’ daily needs are conveniently accessible within the radius of a short walk or bike ride. Their commitment aligns directly with the Portland Climate Action Plan, which strives to make around 90 percent of the city more easily navigated by residents, allowing them to easily reach all essential amenities by walking or biking. Similarly, Cedar Rapids’ Community Action Plan envisions that by 2030 all of their main neighborhoods will be able to meet residents’ needs within an approximately 15-minute walk or bike ride. To achieve this, the city plans to reform its land development regulations to expand housing along with scale commercial opportunities throughout neighborhoods. The city’s Climate Action Plan proposes a strategy for sustainable urban development that aims to fill in missing amenities found within their current neighborhoods. Cedar Rapids further emphasized enhancing its transportation options and Complete Street Policy as part of its efforts to establish 15-minute communities. Their goal is to prioritize vulnerable and under-resourced neighborhoods, including those experiencing excess urban heat and those lacking tree cover.
Are U.S. Cities Suitable For The Creation Of 15-Minute Neighbourhoods?
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology conducted a study assessing whether or not 15-minute neighborhoods were a feasible possibility for cities in the U.S. By analyzing mobile phone location data from over 40 million Americans, they were able to measure how often residents within a particular neighborhood carried out essential trips, within a quarter-hour radius. The results found that only 14% of the trips taken by residents were located within an approximate 15-minute walking radius. It was further noted that most errands occurred in rather sizable distances, resulting in additional costs in time, gasoline, parking spaces, and pollution. Another significant factor in measuring the applicability of such neighborhoods came down to regional differences. For example, many Northeastern communities are quite walkable by design such as New York City which enjoys a 15-minute journey ratio of over 42%. In stark contrast, some of the fastest-growing parts of the country present the lowest percentage levels of 15-minute usage. In Atlanta, for instance, approximately 10% of trips occur within a 15-minute radius. It was noted that it would be difficult to retrofit Atlanta or other car-centric cities such as Phoenix and Dallas to create clusters of walkable amenities. It would seem that a 15-minute city model would be even harder to implement in the suburbs where lawns and parking lots stretch as far as the eye can see, meaning that walkability is very far down on anyone’s daily agenda.
Despite the presented challenges, it was concluded that Americans are not at all opposed to the model as a concept, on the contrary, they gravitate to it, if they are presented with the opportunity. It was recorded that when parks and grocery stores were available nearby, average travel distances decreased as people naturally took advantage of them. However, the research also found the biggest downside to the 15-minute city may have to do with its potential to increase segregation. Phone data analysis showed that community members of low-income 15-minute neighborhoods were less likely to spend time in physical spaces with residents of other economic classes. This could suggest a rather complex tradeoff between local living and social mobility, creating an unfavorable environment where low-income residents would have to voyage outside their neighborhoods to find economic opportunity. To adapt to this challenge, a 15-minute city should be paired with strong investments and a careful urban planning strategy that emphasizes improving economic opportunity and reducing residential segregation.
In the U.S., fragmentation typically occurs as a direct result of redlining policies that aim to racially segregate cities, essentially taking resources away from lower-income neighborhoods of color. Those opposed to the idea point out that if urban planners ignore this issue or let communities lead revitalization efforts while it’s taking a back seat, then a concept like the 15-minute city could eventually exacerbate inequities even further. Building our neighborhoods within a 15 to 30-minute radius could create a positive impact for municipalities interested in equity, health, climate, and economic development. Within the U.S., there is a sizable population that cannot or should not drive, meaning that there is demand for non-automobile travel among seniors, youths, and adults who are unable to rely on driving a car or do not own a driver’s license. Increasing walking and active mobility options could help meet the needs of certain populations in this group, along with lowering emissions and increasing healthy opportunities for residents through reduced atmosphere pollutants.
Final Thoughts
While the success of 15-minute cities is largely dependent on how government officials choose to approach and implement the model at a regional level, adapting urban policies in combination with infrastructure investment and the integration of advanced technologies will be of high priority for global leaders looking to establish such neighborhoods. Proximity communities hold immense potential to make cities more sustainable, adaptable, and resilient by aligning directly with the evolving needs of urban dwellers. As urban planners traverse global challenges such as climate change and population growth, 15-minute cities could offer a more feasible, holistic, forward-thinking approach to current models. It’s also worth noting that adapting the concept to various urban landscapes is essential for its global applicability. The 15-minute model needs to be practical and workable, to a degree that it corresponds with the individual needs of each community as well as the current capacity and resources of that particular city or region.
For example, while large metropolises might face challenges in reshaping established infrastructures, they could greatly benefit from emphasizing the optimization of existing resources by leveraging advanced technologies to improve efficiency. 15-minute cities are deeply entwined with technological advancements, particularly when it comes to the integration of Smart City technologies. The uprise of interconnected devices, data analytics, and artificial intelligence provides viable ways to improve urban efficiency. Smart infrastructure could effectively optimize the transportation sector, automate numerous services, and facilitate real-time data-driven decisions, further streamlining the 15-minute city model. Small towns could also achieve success in adopting the 15-minute city model, by capitalizing on their inherent community structures. A customized approach based on population density, geographical constraints, and cultural nuances will be critical in ensuring a favorable outcome is achieved for all participants, placing a high value on sustainable, livable environments for urban dwellers of varying contexts. As cities gradually evolve, the prospect of 15-minute cities could change how we plan and structure our urban environments, resulting in truly smart, resilient, and future-proof cities.
AUTHOR
Ilina Chipilska is a marketing expert with more than 10 years of experience being involved in a wide range of projects. At Modeshift she manages all marketing activities and the company's online presence.
